The body of a 21-year-old male was recovered from the Buriganga River in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The victim was identified as Jagannath University student Ariful Islam Arif, police sources told the Dhaka Tribune.
He was originally from Marufdah village in Chuadanga district’s Jibannagar upazila.
Arif’s family alleged that he was killed and dumped into the river by his friend named Sumaiya and her husband, whose name could not be confirmed when this report was filed.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Arif’s elder brother Rashidul Islam said Arif moved to Dhaka for higher studies and used to live in a student mess in Dhaka’s Keraniganj area.
“He was a brilliant student, which is why Sumaiya used to borrow his notes and asked for his help in studies frequently,” Rashid said. “Her close association with Arif did not sit well with her husband.”
The grieving brother further said Sumaiya had called Arif on Sunday and asked him to meet her in her house. Arif left to meet Sumaiya on Monday, but did not return to his mess.
Failing to contact him, Arif’s roommate started to look for him and eventually found his mobile phone and bag on the bank of Buriganga on Tuesday.
They immediately notified the River Police, who then conducted a search and recovered Arif’s body from the river in the afternoon.
Rashid alleged that Sumaiya and her husband planned to kill Arif, which is why she asked to meet him at her house, where they killed him, and then dumped his body in the river.
Arif was buried at Majhpara graveyard in his village Wednesday morning.
It could not be confirmed if he had indeed been murdered, or if any case had been filed in this regard. The suspects could not be reached for comments either.