A Member of Parliament (MP) from Bangladesh's ruling Awami League party has been killed in Kolkata, announced the country's Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, on Wednesday (22 May).

"MP Anwarul Azim Anar has been killed in Kolkata, and three individuals have been arrested in Bangladesh," Khan stated, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Anwarul Azim had been missing from Kolkata, West Bengal, since 18 May, having entered India on 12 May. A high-level search operation was launched to locate him.

Azim was last seen on the afternoon of 13 May, when he visited a home in Bidhannagar near Kolkata with friends for a medical check-up.

According to the same report, his family friend in Kolkata reported that his last known physical presence was before 13 May, and there had been no direct contact with him since 18 May.

However, messages were exchanged from Azim's phone with his family in Dhaka and his friend in Bidhannagar, indicating his plans to travel to Delhi.

Indian authorities have initiated a joint investigation into the killing of the Bangladeshi MP. Azim's family members are set to arrive in Kolkata for further formalities, with their visa process underway.

Shaban Mahmood, Minister (Press) at the High Commission for Bangladesh in New Delhi, commented, “As our Home Minister has announced, I believe this has happened... But we still don't have any authentic information from the Government of India. We will have to wait. But we apprehend that he may have been killed or assassinated because our Home Minister has already announced it... There might be several reasons behind it.”

Following Azim's disappearance, his family friend Gopal Vishwas lodged a missing person complaint at the Baranagar police station in Bidhannagar, Kolkata, after Azim's daughter reported being unable to contact her father.

The complaint, dated 18 May 2024, stated, "On the morning of May 16, he (Anwarul Azim) called his assistant but could not connect. Later, when his PA called him back, he did not answer."