Former Bangladesh Air Force Flight Lieutenant Tahsif Souri, whose body was recovered from the Turag River this week, had questioned allegations that he recorded and circulated a video of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina leaving the country on August 5, 2024.

During a July 21, 2026, interview on the YouTube-based podcast and talk show platform "Speak with Rashid," Tahsif questioned the evidence behind the allegations against him and suggested they may have contributed to his dismissal from the Air Force.

The interview, hosted by Mamunur Rashid, has resurfaced following the recovery of his body.

During the interview, the host mentioned a media report alleging that footage of Sheikh Hasina leaving the country had been recorded at Kurmitola Airport and circulated by Tahsif. The report also reportedly connected him to an inquiry concerning the alleged involvement of India's intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), within the Air Force.

Responding to the allegations, Tahsif stated that the report claimed Rifat Ashrafi had recorded the video and circulated it. He questioned what evidence supported the allegation that he had shared the footage.

“Even if I recorded the video or circulated it, what proof do they have? I want to ask that,” he said.

When asked whether the allegations had led to his dismissal from the Air Force, Tahsif stated that this was possible, but he declined to disclose details of the events at the time.

“I cannot disclose everything, and there are things I am unable to discuss. I think they did this because of these allegations,” he said.

Tahsif also stated that he experienced social embarrassment and harassment following the publication of the report, asserting that its headline and presentation had fostered a misleading impression of him among readers.

He rejected allegations of RAW's involvement within the Air Force, asking: “If I were linked to RAW, why would I be in Bangladesh? If I were linked to RAW, why would I speak publicly?”

He described the allegation as “a very ridiculous claim”.

Tahsif further claimed that the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) directorate had stated he had no such involvement. However, no detailed documents supporting the claim were presented during the interview.

When asked if he had appealed against his discharge from the Air Force, Tahsif stated that he had not done so and remained uncertain whether he would pursue an appeal in the future.

He also expressed frustration regarding the withholding of his passport, describing the measure as a violation of his democratic rights.

“They had withheld my passport, which is my democratic right. I am deeply upset about this. I suffered for two years,” he said, adding that he had since recovered the passport.

Speaking to journalists at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital on Thursday, Tahsif's father, KM Enayetul Karim Helal, stated that his son had been dismissed from the Air Force in September 2024, following the change of government the previous month.

He said the family had been told that the dismissal was related to disciplinary issues.

“Only the department can explain this. The department simply told us that it is a disciplined organisation and that he was discharged because of indiscipline,” he said.

Following his departure from the Air Force, Tahsif was employed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board and Netra News. Most recently, he worked as an administration and security officer at Vargo Tobacco.

Asked whether his son had received any threats, his father said Tahsif occasionally told him that he felt apprehensive. However, he stated that he did not know what had caused his son's concerns and clarified that Tahsif had never told him he had been threatened.

His father also stated that the family had no information regarding whether Tahsif had recorded or circulated the video of Sheikh Hasina leaving the country.

“We know nothing about this matter, or even whether he actually posted the video,” he said.

Tahsif's body was recovered from the Turag River on Wednesday and sent to the morgue at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.

Following the autopsy, Dr Nashat Jabin, head of the hospital's forensic medicine department and an assistant professor, stated that samples from Tahsif's liver, kidneys, stomach, and blood were collected and sent for testing. Additionally, samples for DNA profiling were gathered.

The cause of death will be established after the test results are received, she said.

Dhaka District River Police Superintendent Abdullah Al Mamun stated on Thursday that no externally visible injuries or wounds had been found on Tahsif's body.

He said the cause of death would be determined after the autopsy report was received, adding that further legal action would be taken based on complaints from the family.

Why it matters

The death and background of a former Air Force officer previously linked to high-profile political media leaks highlight ongoing security and accountability concerns in Bangladesh.