Police recovered the body of Nurullah Shawon, 25, a third-year Chemistry student of Ananda Mohan Government College, two days after he went missing while fleeing muggers.
Authorities found his body in the Brahmaputra River near Zainul Abedin Park in Mymensingh city at around 10:30pm on Friday.
News of the recovery spread quickly, prompting students from Ananda Mohan College and other educational institutions to stage protests at the Town Hall intersection late at night.
They also blocked vehicles of government officials heading to the Shaheed Minar to lay wreaths.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Abdullah Al Mamun said “Shawon had gone to the riverbank with his friend Rifat on Wednesday afternoon. The two fell victim to muggers. The attackers assaulted them, forcing the friends to run in different directions to save their lives. Rifat managed to escape, but Shawon went missing.”
Fire Service divers searched the river for two days but failed to locate him. On Friday night, locals spotted his body on the riverbank and informed police.
Police suspect Shawon drowned while trying to escape the muggers. Officers have launched a drive to arrest those involved and assured that the culprits will face the law.
Angered by the incident, around 200 to 300 students from various institutions blocked the Town Hall area at around midnight.
As the clock marked the first hours of 21 February, protesting students stopped vehicles carrying divisional and district administration officials, including the Range DIG and the Superintendent of Police, who were heading to the Shaheed Minar to pay tribute.
The agitating students shut down nearby roads and chanted slogans, demanding the immediate arrest of all those responsible for the mugging and Shawon’s death.
