The discovery of the body of a senior leader of the Jatiya Party (JaPa) inside a residential hotel room in Dhaka’s busy Bijoynagar area has sparked widespread concern and discussion. The deceased has been identified as Hazra Shahidul Islam Babul, aged 68, who was serving as the General Secretary of the Jatiya Party’s Bagerhat district unit. Police recovered his body on Thursday, 18 December, bringing a sudden and tragic end to the life of a long-serving political figure.
According to police sources, the incident came to light at around 1:30pm when a call was received at the national emergency helpline 999. The caller reported that a man staying in a room at a residential hotel in Bijoynagar had not been responding for an unusually long time. Finding the situation suspicious, officials from Paltan Police Station immediately rushed to the scene to investigate.
With assistance from the hotel authorities, police forced open the door of the rented room. Upon entering, they discovered Hazra Shahidul Islam Babul lying motionless on the bathroom floor. The room was promptly secured, and senior officers were informed. The sudden nature of the discovery caused anxiety among hotel staff and guests, while news of the incident quickly spread throughout the surrounding area.
Sub-Inspector Nuruzzaman of Paltan Police Station confirmed the recovery of the body. He stated that no visible signs of injury were found during the initial inspection. Following standard legal procedures, the body was sent later that evening to the morgue at Dhaka Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination. He added that the exact cause of death would only be determined after the autopsy report is completed.
Hazra Shahidul Islam Babul was a permanent resident of Kachua upazila in Bagerhat district, where his family home is located. Professionally, he was a businessman and had been actively involved in Jatiya Party politics for many years. Within local political circles, he was regarded as a familiar and influential figure, known for his organisational role and long-standing commitment to the party.
Family members have indicated that Babul had been suffering from several health complications for quite some time. His nephew-in-law, Shaheen, revealed that he was a heart patient and had suffered a stroke during the last Ramadan. The family believes that he may have fallen seriously ill while staying in the hotel room, possibly due to a stroke or sudden cardiac arrest.
Despite these assumptions, police have stressed that no conclusions will be drawn until the post-mortem findings are available. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding his death and have begun questioning hotel staff and relevant individuals as part of the inquiry.
The recovery of a political leader’s body from a Dhaka hotel has raised questions and prompted concern across various quarters. Many now await the autopsy report, which is expected to clarify the circumstances behind this unexpected and sorrowful death.