Dhaka: Police recovered the body of a trader from a jute field at Rokman Khar Dangi village in Sadar upazila of Faridpur district on Saturday, two days after he went missing. The deceased was identified as Yusuf Fakir, 45, a wholesale onion trader and son of Seken Fakir of the village.

According to United News of Bangladesh, local people spotted Yusuf’s body with his hands and legs tied and informed the police, who recovered the body around 7 am. A bottle of pesticide was found near the body, raising suspicions about the cause of death. Family members reported that Yusuf had left home on Thursday afternoon, intending to visit Momin Khar Hat for a blood sugar check-up at a local dispensary due to feeling unwell, after which he went missing.

Aziz Khan, Yusuf’s father-in-law, recounted that an easy-bike driver confirmed dropping Yusuf off in front of his house. Despite several attempts to contact him that evening, Yusuf’s phone was either disconnected or switched off by 9:00 pm. Saiful Fakir, his nephew, consequently filed a general diary (GD) with Faridpur Kotwali Police Station regarding his disappearance.

Aziz further revealed that the family received a distressing phone call on Friday afternoon from Yusuf’s mobile phone, with a demand for Tk 30,000 in exchange for his safe return. The caller assured Yusuf’s release upon payment but later switched off the phone, following up with two more calls from an internet-based number, reiterating the ransom demand.

Local Union Parishad member Ali Moddin Fakir described the grim scene, stating the body was found about 300 meters from Yusuf’s house with signs of pesticide poisoning evident around his mouth. Md Mahmudul Hasan, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station, confirmed that the body was sent to Faridpur Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.