Clearing all confusions about the fate of senior Awami League leader in Bangladesh, Meghalaya police on the evening of August 26 found the body of Ishaque Ali Khan Panna from a betel nut plantation in the border area of East Jaintia Hills.
The internal political upheaval in neighbouring Bangladesh has led to fleeing of several leading figures of the previous Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina.
According to Bangladesh media reports, Panna died recently after he fell from a hillock while fleeing to the Meghalaya border. However, the media reports did not provide much detail about his death.
Today, East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police, Giri Prasad in a statement issued here informed that the semi decomposed body of Panna was found from a betel nut plantation located at Dona Bhoi area of East Jaintia Hills about 1.5 kilometres from the international border.
Panna was identified through the Bangladesh passport found from his body.
After conducting all procedures at the site, Panna’s body was shifted to Khliehriat Civil Hospital for post mortem examination.
Police have kept the body at the hospital’s morgue room and have requested family members to come and identify and claim the body.
“Investigation is on pertaining to the case,” Prasad said.
Panna is a close confidante of then Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He is also the general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League, a student wing of the Awami League, the party that ruled Bangladesh from 2009 to August 5 this year.
The Awami League government led by Prime Minister Hasina was removed on August 5 after massive students protest across Bangladesh. Hasina was forced to flee to India.
