Police in Jhikargachha, Jessore, have recovered the decomposing body of a missing engine-driven van driver from the Kopotakkho River, ending a frantic three-day search by his family.

The victim, identified as 26-year-old Eklas Hossain, was the son of Sanaul Hossain, a resident of Madhabpur village within the Swarupdaha Union of Chaugachha Upazila.

Eklas went missing on the afternoon of 19 September after leaving his family home with his newly purchased motorized van. When he failed to return by nightfall, his concerned relatives launched a search across neighbouring localities and frequented areas. Unable to trace his whereabouts, the family formally lodged a general diary (GD) at the Chaugachha Police Station on 20 September, urging law enforcement agencies to assist in locating him.

The investigation took a grim turn on Tuesday morning, 22 September, around 10:30 AM, when local residents in the Ganganandapur East Para area of Jhikargachha Upazila spotted a human body floating near the banks of the Kopotakkho River. Alerted by the onlookers, a police team from Jhikargachha Police Station dispatched officers to the scene and retrieved the partially decomposed remains at approximately 12:30 PM.

Upon receiving news of the recovery, Eklas’s family members rushed to the riverbank and positively identified the deceased by his clothing and physical characteristics.

Local authorities have sent the body to the Jessore General Hospital morgue for an autopsy to determine the precise cause and timing of death. Preliminary police enquiries suspect foul play, with investigators evaluating whether the young driver was murdered for his valuable vehicle. Motorised three-wheelers are frequently targeted by opportunistic criminals in rural districts, making local drivers vulnerable to violent hijacking attempts. Officers from both Jhikargachha and Chaugachha police stations have initiated a joint investigation to track the victim’s final movements, locate the missing van, and apprehend those responsible for the crime.