Expatriate Murdered Over Motorcycle Dispute in Sylhet

The Bangladesh Police have announced a breakthrough in the gruesome murder of Borhan Uddin (also known as Shafi), a 59-year-old British-Bangladeshi expatriate whose charred remains were discovered in a remote marshland in Sylhet. Following a meticulous investigation by the District Detective Branch (DB), two of the three primary suspects have provided detailed confessional statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The Fatal Dispute

According to judicial sources and police briefings, the motive behind the killing was a dispute involving a motorcycle owned by the victim. Mr Uddin, originally from Jagannathpur in Sunamganj, had been residing in a rented flat in the Amberkhana area of Sylhet city. During his periods abroad in the United Kingdom, he had entrusted his motorcycle to Sabbir Ahmed, one of the accused, for maintenance and use.

Trouble brewed when Mr Uddin returned to Bangladesh and requested the return of his vehicle, reportedly intending to gift or sell it to someone else. The pressure to return the motorcycle led to a rift, prompting the suspects to orchestrate a pre-planned assassination.

Timeline of the Crime

The investigation reveals that the plot was hatched on 25 January 2026, while Mr Uddin was still in the UK. On 30 January, shortly after his arrival, he was lured into travelling from Sylhet to Kulaura on the pretext of a motorcycle trip. He was subsequently reported missing, leading to a General Diary (GD) being filed at the Bimanbandar Police Station.

On 3 February, a severely burnt body was recovered from the Konarband Hawor (marshland) in Zakiganj. The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) eventually identified the remains as those of Borhan Uddin.

A Brutal Execution

In their confessions before the Zakiganj Assistant Judge’s Court, Sabbir and Mehraj detailed the final moments of the victim. They admitted to intercepting Mr Uddin in the secluded marshland, where they launched a coordinated physical assault. The victim was struck repeatedly with fists and a heavy motorcycle helmet until he succumbed to his injuries. In a desperate bid to conceal the crime and prevent identification, the assailants set the body on fire before fleeing the scene.

Police Breakthrough

Additional Superintendent of Police Zakir Hossain noted that the case was initially “clueless” due to the state of the body. However, using advanced forensic technology and tracking the victim’s missing motorcycle—which was recovered from the possession of the third suspect, Tahirul Haque—the DB successfully traced the perpetrators to various locations, including Purbachal in Narayanganj.

The police are currently pursuing a fourth individual believed to be linked to the conspiracy. Meanwhile, the legal proceedings continue as the community mourns the tragic loss of a member of the British-Bangladeshi diaspora.