Mystery surrounding the death of former Bangladesh Air Force Flight Lieutenant Tahsif Sauri is deepening, with inconsistencies emerging in statements made by Ahmed Shahriar Reza Deep, a younger friend who reportedly called Tahsif out of his home before his disappearance.

In an interview with Kalbela, Deep claimed that the two had dinner together at a restaurant before going their separate ways. However, during questioning by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), he reportedly said that they were chased by a group of people near the incident site, following which Tahsif jumped into the river while he managed to escape.

The two different accounts of the final moments together have raised questions about what actually happened before Tahsif's death.

Tahsif Sauri (28)'s floating body was recovered on Wednesday afternoon from the Rajabari Ghat area of the Turag River in Dhaka.

There has been speculation that Tahsif was the person who circulated a video allegedly showing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina leaving Bangladesh after being ousted from power. However, Kalbela could not independently verify this claim.

According to people close to him, Tahsif had recently expressed concerns about his safety after allegedly receiving several threats.

Based on information provided by Tahsif's family, PBI Dhaka Metro North took Deep into custody for questioning from a residence on Babar Road in Dhaka's Mohammadpur area on Thursday night. Deep was the person who had reportedly called Tahsif out of his home.

Two Different Accounts of the Incident

Before being taken for questioning by PBI, Deep told Kalbela:

"My motorcycle and his motorcycle are the same model. His motorcycle had become inoperable. Since I own the same model and maintain my bike regularly, I know how to handle issues such as changing engine oil. I helped him start his motorcycle, and we went together to a workshop in Uttara. There, we changed the engine oil and took care of several other issues before returning to the apartment project."

He added, "From there, we went to a restaurant and had dinner together. After that, I left for my home, while he went in another direction. I do not specifically know where he went or what he intended to do."

However, PBI officials have provided a different account following their questioning of Deep.

A police superintendent of the investigative agency told the media:

"Deep said they were talking at the location when some people chased them. Tahsif jumped into the river, while Deep managed to escape."

The official added that Deep's statements and other information obtained during questioning were being examined and verified.

The discrepancies between Deep's account to Kalbela and the information he reportedly provided to PBI have raised further questions about his statements.

Unanswered Questions Surrounding Tahsif's Death

Before his death, Tahsif had spoken about leaving his job, allegations that he circulated a video of Sheikh Hasina leaving Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, and several incidents surrounding that period.

However, he had not disclosed everything. He reportedly said, "I will not tell everything. I also have certain limitations."

Now, those undisclosed details have become part of the growing mystery surrounding his death.

His family claims that Tahsif had never visited the area where his body was recovered.

Questions remain unanswered about the actual cause of his death, who may have been involved and what happened to him during the several hours after he went missing.

Following his death, allegations concerning the circulation of the video of Sheikh Hasina's departure have resurfaced on social media.

However, no credible evidence has been made public to establish that Tahsif recorded or circulated the video. It also remains unclear whether those allegations had any connection to his death.