The body of a 28-year-old Hindu tea garden worker was found with his hands and feet bound in a plantation area in Bangladesh’s Moulvibazar district on Wednesday (February 11), on the eve of the country’s elections, triggering shock and concern among local residents.
Police said the victim, identified as Ratan Shuvo Kar, was employed at Champara Tea Garden under Islampur union in Kamalganj upazila. The body was found on Wednesday morning, according to Kamalganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Awal, as reported by Bangladesh daily The Daily Star.
Local people first noticed the body around 10 am and immediately alerted the police.
Residents said the body showed clear signs of injury and was covered in blood, raising suspicions that Kar may have been killed at another location before being dumped inside the tea estate.
Family members said he had been missing since the previous night. His elder brother, Laxman Kar, said they had been searching for him before being informed about the discovery.
“We went to the garden after hearing the news and identified the body. We have no idea why he was killed,” Laxman Kar said, adding that the family is still in shock over the incident.
Meanwhile, voting began on Thursday morning in Bangladesh‘s crucial general election — the first since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in massive nationwide protests in August 2024.
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The voting started in 299 out of 300 parliamentary constituencies across the country from 7:30 am (local time) and will continue until 4:30 pm. The counting of votes is expected to begin shortly after the voting concludes.
Voting in one constituency has been cancelled due to the death of a candidate.
