The body of a 40-year-old Hindu temple caretaker was discovered hanging from a tree in a remote hilly region of southeastern Bangladesh, three days after he was reported missing.
According to reports, local authorities and residents confirmed the recovery of Nayan Sadhu, who served as a priest and caretaker at the Shivakali temple in the Khurushkul union of Cox’s Bazar.
Sadhu, originally from the Dohazari area in Chhattogram district, was last seen on the evening of April 19 when two unidentified men reportedly escorted him away.
Following his disappearance, his wife filed a missing person’s report, sparking a search that ended with the grim discovery on the outskirts of his village.
Investigation and Autopsy
As per TOI, Police officials have noted that the body was in the early stages of decomposition when it was located. While the circumstances are suspicious, authorities have not yet officially classified the death.
“We recovered the body when it had started getting decomposed,” a police official stated, according to reports by the Kaler Kantha newspaper.
Law enforcement has sent the remains for an autopsy to determine whether the incident was a suicide or a murder. A formal investigation is currently underway to trace the two men last seen with Sadhu.
Calls for Justice and Accountability
The discovery has sparked outrage among local religious organizations. Jony Dhar, general secretary of the Cox’s Bazar unit of the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council, argued that the timeline of the disappearance strongly suggests foul play.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) issued a formal statement demanding a swift and thorough investigation. “The Unity Council strongly condemns the incident and demands immediate arrest and exemplary punishment against the perpetrators,” the forum stated.
Despite the demands for justice, the motive behind the incident remains unclear. “We just cannot understand what could be the motive of killing an ordinary caretaker of a relatively small temple in a remote area,” BHBCUC senior member Kajal Debnath told PTI.
Rising Concerns Over Communal Violence
This incident occurs against a backdrop of increasing reports of tension in the region. On April 9, the BHBCUC released data indicating that 133 incidents of communal violence were recorded in Bangladesh during the first three months of the year.
The recovery of Nayan Sadhu’s body has further heightened concerns among minority communities regarding safety and the protection of religious workers in rural areas.