A 35-year-old temple caretaker who had been missing for three days was found dead in a hilly area of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila on Wednesday, according to local media reports. The victim, identified as Nayan Das, worked at a temple in the Khurushkhul Union area and had reportedly gone missing under suspicious circumstances earlier this week.

Disappearance And Discovery

Nayan Das, a resident of Satkania, had been working at the Pulishshora Ghona Naag Panchami Temple when he was allegedly called out of his residence by a group of unidentified individuals around 9 pm on Sunday. According to family members, he did not return home that night, prompting growing concern among relatives and colleagues.

After unsuccessful attempts to locate him, the family filed a general diary with the Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station on Monday night. Local residents and temple associates joined the search efforts across nearby areas.

The search came to a grim end on Wednesday afternoon when a group of locals discovered his body hanging from a tree in a remote hilly region east of the temple. Authorities were immediately informed, and police reached the scene to recover the body.

Police Investigation Underway

Police officials stated that the body had a scarf wrapped around the neck and was subsequently sent to Cox’s Bazar General Hospital for a postmortem examination. Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Samiuddin said that the exact cause of death would only be determined after the autopsy report is completed.

He added that investigators are examining all possible angles, including whether the death was a suicide or a homicide. “Police are working to uncover the mystery behind the incident,” he said, indicating that no conclusions have been drawn yet.

Allegations And Community Concerns

However, doubts have been raised by individuals close to the victim. A temple associate, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that Nayan may have been killed before being hanged, pointing to what were described as injury marks on his neck.

Jony Dhar, general secretary of the Cox’s Bazar Puja Udjapan Parishad, also cited the family’s account, stating that Nayan had left home on April 19 after being called by unknown persons and had not been seen alive again.

The incident has drawn attention as the first reported killing of a Hindu individual in Bangladesh following the general elections earlier this year. Police have reiterated that the investigation remains ongoing, with further clarity expected after forensic findings are available.

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