Dwip’s new claims raise questions over ex-BAF officer Tahsif’s death

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) is verifying a claim by Ahmed Shahriar Reza Dwip, a close friend of former Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) flight lieutenant KM Tahsif Sauri, that two men wearing police uniforms chased them near the Turag River shortly before Tahsif went missing.

During questioning at the PBI’s Dhaka Metro North office early Friday, Dwip reportedly said he and Tahsif were talking in the Mazar Basti area beside the river when the two men chased them. Tahsif then jumped into the river, while Dwip fled.

Mohammad Enayet Hossain Mannan, additional deputy inspector general of PBI Dhaka Metro North shared this information on Friday, adding that investigators were checking whether the men were police personnel and why they had approached Tahsif and Dwip.

He said investigators had visited the spot with Dwip and were examining his account. They were trying to establish why the two went there and whether Tahsif’s death was murder, an accident or suicide.  

Several important details had emerged during Dwip’s questioning, but were being withheld in the interest of the investigation, he said.

Tahsif’s father, AKM Enayetul Karim, rejected the claim that his son jumped into the river while fleeing. 

Speaking on Friday afternoon, he said, “Why would anyone chase Tahsif? These are baseless claims. My son knew how to swim. He was a pilot and had completed an extensive swimming course as part of his training. He also had a certificate. It seems someone is trying to divert attention from the actual circumstances of his death.”

Meanwhile, the PBI has recovered a black Suzuki Gixxer 150 motorcycle based on information provided by Dwip. Investigators are checking its documents to determine whether it was connected to Tahsif’s death.

PBI Superintendent of Police (Law and Media Wing) Mohammad Abu Yusuf said the motorcycle, which had no number plate, was found in Mazar Basti, around 50 yards from the spot where Tahsif’s body was recovered.

CCTV footage also showed that Tahsif’s motorcycle had no number plate, prompting investigators to suspect that the recovered vehicle might have been his. 

PBI Inspector Syed Sajedur Rahman said Dwip had not been arrested and was not an accused in the case. He was being questioned to establish why the two went to the area, whether they met anyone there and where they went afterwards. 

Sajedur said Dwip had given different accounts of his movements with Tahsif. During questioning early Friday, Dwip told investigators that they had gone their separate ways around midnight in Uttara’s House Building area and had no contact afterwards.

However, speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon, Dwip had said that he and Tahsif went to a workshop to repair Tahsif’s motorcycle and later had dinner at a restaurant. He also claimed that he dropped Tahsif off at his residence before returning home. He said he returned home and tried calling Tahsif, but his phone was switched off.

Dwip’s latest statement led investigators to the recovered motorcycle, Sajedur said. He added that it remained unclear why Dwip had left Tahsif and returned alone after they had travelled to the area together.

Dwip was taken from the third floor of a house on B Block of Babar Road in Mohammadpur early Friday, SP Abu Yusuf said. Dwip is the son of local resident Selim Reza. 

PBI teams conducted overnight operations at several locations based on information obtained from him.

Meanwhile, no case had been filed by Tahsif’s family as of 6:30pm on Friday. Additional Inspector General of Police Mohammad Rezaul Karim, chief of the River Police, said the family was still considering filing a case. If they did not, police would file one on their own.

Tahsif left his home in Sector 18 of Uttara with Dwip on Tuesday evening, telling his mother, “Dwip is coming. I will go and talk to him.” He left on his motorcycle at around 6:30pm and did not return.

CCTV footage showed Dwip arriving at the garage beneath Tahsif’s residence at 6:24pm. Tahsif came downstairs shortly afterwards and the two rode away on separate motorcycles at 6:31pm.

Tahsif’s body was recovered from the Turag River near Rajabari Ghat at around 4:30pm on Wednesday. Members of the Tongi River Police outpost went there after receiving a call to the national emergency service 999 reporting a floating body.