How did two bodies end up in a car? Mystery still puzzles police

The car owner tried multiple times to contact the two but failed to connect due to poor network in the basement, they say

Police have gained some clues about the victims' movements following the recovery of two bodies from a car parked in the basement of Sirajul Islam Medical College in Dhaka’s Mouchak.

They analysed CCTV footage and the surrounding circumstances to determine why the two were at the hospital.

But, police say they need more time to determine how they died.

According to Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Md Masud Alam, the intense heat inside the car for over 30 hours caused the bodies to decompose.

Initial investigations could not determine if there were any signs of injury on the bodies, he added.

On Monday at around 11:45am, hospital security guards discovered the bodies inside the car and immediately notified police, who recovered and sent them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem.

According to police, the two men identified as driver Zakir Hossain and his cousin Mizan had travelled to the hospital to pick up a patient. Both of them were in their 40s and from Noakhali's Chatkhil.

The patient, a child named only Jobayer, was scheduled to be discharged on Sunday.

The car's owner, Jobayer Ahmed Sourav, informed police that he and the two victims arrived at the hospital on Sunday morning.

He later left for another engagement, while Zakir and Mizan were supposed to wait for the patient's family.

Security camera footage shows Mizan walking toward the car after speaking with Sourav at the reception. However, the exact moment he enters the vehicle is obscured from the camera's view.

Sourav said he had tried to contact the two multiple times but failed to connect due to poor network in the basement, according to police.

Asked why the car owner did not visit the hospital after failing to find them, and whether the victims’ bodies bore any injury marks, Masud said: “We are investigating using all our tools, starting with CCTV footage. After the investigation, we will know what actually happened.

“The basement was extremely hot, and the car doors were closed. The bodies were in the condition usually seen three to four days after death. Doctors may be able to determine during the post-mortem whether there was any other complication.”

He said the forensic team of the Criminal Investigation Department had collected evidence, adding, “We will also get their opinion”.