Decomposed Body of Tile Worker Recovered in Gazipur

Police in Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila recovered the partially decomposed body of a young man from his rented residence on Thursday afternoon, 22 October, after neighbours alerted the authorities to a foul odour emanating from the locked property.

The deceased has been identified as 26-year-old Ashik Sheikh, son of Abdul Kadir, hailing from Khowrail village in Valuka upazila, Mymensingh. Ashik had been residing in a rented room belonging to a local resident, Fazlul Haq, in Faridpur village under Sreepur, where he earned a living as a tile artisan.

According to the property owner, the room had been locked from the outside for several days. Alarm was raised on Thursday morning when a pungent smell began diffusing into the surrounding courtyard. Landlord Fazlul Haq subsequently notified local law enforcement, who dispatched an operational team to open the premises around 2:30 pm. Upon entry, officers discovered Ashik’s body in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating that death had occurred several days prior.

Reflecting on the circumstances leading up to the tragedy, the victim’s father, Abdul Kadir, disclosed that his son was married and had a five-year-old child. Ashik lived with his family near his workplace, but marital tension had recently disrupted the household. Following a domestic dispute a few days earlier, Ashik’s wife left the rental property with their child to stay at her paternal home.

Abdul Kadir noted that his last phone conversation with his son took place five days ago, after which communication ceased until the police contacted the family with news of his demise.

Industrial and residential hubs across Gazipur regularly attract thousands of day labourers and skilled tradesmen from neighbouring rural districts, who rent modest lodgings near manufacturing units and construction sites. The tragic discovery highlights the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers living away from their primary family support structures.

Sub-Inspector Obaidul Haq of Sreepur Police Station confirmed the recovery, stating that the remains have been transported to the morgue at Shahid Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur for a post-mortem examination. Law enforcement officers have initiated an inquiry to establish the exact cause of death and determine whether foul play or self-harm was involved.