Tahsif’s Death: Friend Dip Shown Arrested in Father’s Case

Shahriar Reza Deep and KM Tahsif Sauri. Photo: Collected

A case has been filed over the death of former Bangladesh Air Force flight lieutenant K M Tahsif Sauri by his father, Enayetul Karim. In connection with the case, Tahsif’s business partner and close friend, Shahriar Reza Dip, has been shown arrested. The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) later handed him over to the river police.

The PBI headquarters confirmed the development on Saturday, October 31.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Dip was handed over to the river police around midnight on Saturday.

On Thursday night, October 29, PBI officials took Dip into custody from the third floor of a house in Block B of Babar Road in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. He is the son of Selim Reza, a resident of the area.

Dip had spent nearly six hours with Tahsif before the latter went missing. Investigators began questioning him to establish what had happened during that period.

Dip reportedly gave investigators and law enforcement officials differing accounts of the events leading up to Tahsif’s death, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the case.

On Friday, October 30, a PBI investigation team took Dip to Mazar Basti in Tongi. Investigators questioned him about what had happened near boundary pillar No. 29 of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), beside the Turag River.

Based on information provided by Dip, investigators recovered a black Suzuki Gixxer 150 motorcycle without a number plate from the area.

During questioning, Dip gave his account of the night in question. He claimed that he and Tahsif had gone to Mazar Basti beside the Turag River. While they were talking, several people allegedly chased them. Dip claimed that two of those pursuing them were wearing police uniforms.

According to Dip, Tahsif ran after seeing the group and eventually jumped into the Turag River. Dip said he hid behind BIWTA boundary pillar No. 29 before leaving the area.

In an earlier account, Dip said he had helped Tahsif get his motorcycle started because the two owned bikes of the same model. He claimed they then went to a workshop in Uttara, where Tahsif’s motorcycle received an engine oil change and other maintenance.

Dip said they later returned to an apartment project and went to a restaurant for dinner. He claimed that they went their separate ways after the meal, with Tahsif leaving in a different direction. Dip said he did not know where Tahsif was headed or what he intended to do.

Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police Enayet Hossain Mannan of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s North Division said on Friday that Dip had provided inconsistent information. Investigators were not accepting all his statements at face value, he said, adding that they would verify the relevant details before sharing further information.