Police in Gournadi, Barishal, recovered the decomposed body of a 60-year-old man from his locked residence on Wednesday night, days after he inexplicably went missing. The deceased, identified as Abdul Khalek Khondokar, lived alone in the Dakshin Bilbagram area of Mahilara Union, while his son and daughter resided in Dhaka for employment.

Locals first raised the alarm on Wednesday evening after noticing an overpowering stench emanating from the locked house. According to Nur Alam Sardar, a member of Ward 9 of Mahilara Union Council, Abdul Khalek earned his living by delivering drinking water to various shops in the local Bilbagram market. He had not been seen in public since Monday. When neighbours approached the house to investigate the foul odour, they found the front door securely locked from the inside and immediately notified the authorities.

Officers from Gournadi Model Police Station arrived at the scene around 10:15 pm on 28 October, forced open the bolted door, and discovered Abdul Khalek’s partially decomposed body lying on his bed.

Tariq Hasan Russell, Officer-in-Charge of Gournadi Model Police Station, confirmed the recovery and stated that preliminary assessments suggest the man died several days prior to discovery. Given that his adult children live in the capital for work, the victim had been residing by himself, leaving him without immediate aid in the event of a sudden medical emergency or fatal mishap.

Police officers completed the initial inquest report at the scene before preparing to dispatch the body to the local hospital morgue for an autopsy. Law enforcement officials confirmed that an investigation into the exact cause of death is under way, with formal legal proceedings currently in motion.