COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh — April 22, 2026: Authorities in southeastern Bangladesh have recovered the partially burned body of a Hindu temple priest who had been missing for three days, in a case that has raised alarm in the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar.
The deceased, identified as Nayan Sadhu, approximately 50, served as a priest at a local temple in Khurushkul, a rural union on the outskirts of Cox’s Bazar town.
According to local residents and family members, Sadhu had been missing since April 19. Despite search efforts by relatives and villagers, he remained untraced until early Tuesday, when locals discovered his body hanging from a tree deep inside a forested এলাকায় of Khurushkul. The body showed signs of partial burning, raising strong suspicions of foul play.
Police responded to the scene shortly after being alerted and recovered the body, which has since been sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
“We are treating the case with utmost seriousness,” a police official said, requesting anonymity as the investigation is ongoing. “The condition of the body suggests this is not a natural death. We are exploring all possibilities, including homicide.”
Investigators have yet to determine whether the victim was killed before being set on fire and hanged, or if other circumstances were involved. Authorities say forensic analysis and the autopsy report will be crucial in establishing the exact cause and manner of death.
The incident has caused concern among local residents, who are calling for a thorough investigation and swift justice. No arrests have been reported so far, and it remains unclear whether a formal case has been filed.
Bangladesh has witnessed sporadic incidents involving religious figures in recent years, and law enforcement agencies are under increasing pressure to ensure transparency and accountability in such sensitive cases.
Police said further details will be released as the investigation progresses.
