Decomposed Body of Awami League Leader Found in Meghalaya After Fleeing Bangladesh Upon Sheikh Hasina's Resignation

A decomposed body of a leader of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League was found in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on Wednesday (28 August) evening.

The 60-year-old leader was said to be hiding since Hasina resigned on 5 August and left the country to seek temporary refuge in India. He was identified due to the passport found near his body.

The leader is identified as Ishaq Ali Khan Panna. His body was taken to the Khliehriat (headquarters of East Jaintia Hills district) Civil Hospital for an autopsy and further investigation.

The body was found at a distance of 1.5 kilometres from the India-Bangladesh border in a betel nut plantation in the Dona Bhoi area, that falls under the Umkiang police station.

Panna is a former general secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League and was a senior leader of the Awami League in Bangladesh’s Pirojpur district, The Hindu reported. 

As per reports in Bangladesh media, he along with a few others tried to enter Meghalaya through the Tamabil area of the Sylhet district on 24 August.

On reaching a hill at 6 am, he reportedly faced breathing difficulties, collapsed and died. The Border Security Force (BSF) denied reports of chasing him which allegedly resulted in his death.

"Recently no infiltration/illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals was reported in the area of responsibility of the Meghalaya Frontier of BSF along the Indo-BD (Bangladesh) border," the border force said.

A report in the Dhaka Tribune said Panna’s brother Zafar Ali Khan has requested the repatriation of his body from India through Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.