Man who frequented India found dead along Jhenaidah border

Police say the man had left home for Kolkata on Tuesday

The body of a 46-year-old Bangladeshi man with a history of travelling to India has been recovered from the Ichhamati River of Moheshpur Upazila in Jhenaidah near the border.

Ratikant Joydhar, a resident of Kotalipara Upazila in Gopalganj, was found dead along the Palianpur border on Thursday evening, said Lt Col Rafiqul Alam, commander of the Moheshpur-58 Border Guard Bangladesh Battalion (BGB).

He was shot dead, the BGB official said, adding that the body was around 10 yards in the river.

After his family was informed of the death, Ratikant’s younger brother confirmed the identity.

Moheshpur Police chief Mehedi Hasan said a Bangladeshi passport found in Ratikant’s possession also helped confirm his identify.

“There were bullet wounds on his chest,” he said.

Citing the family, police said Ratikant’s wife Ujjali Jayadhar moved to Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal with their four children eight years ago.

Since then, Ratikant has travelled to Kolkata several times.

“He also left home for Kolkata on Tuesday,” said Mehedi.

A murder case had been filed against unknown suspects with the body sent to the Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital morgue for a post-mortem.

The inquest report exposed bruises on the neck, ribs and back of the body, with police suspecting them to be gunshot wounds.

Alamgir Hossain, sub-inspector of the police station, said they initially believe the death resulted from an alleged effort enter India illegally.

“However, the real cause of death can be confirmed after receiving the post-mortem report.”