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TL;DR
- Ishaque Ali Khan Panna’s body was found near the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya on August 26, 2024.
- Panna, a former Awami League leader, was in hiding after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
- He reportedly died from severe breathing problems while attempting to flee to India.
- Authorities are investigating conflicting reports about his death, including possible pursuit by the BSF.
The decomposed body of Ishaque Ali Khan Panna, a prominent leader of Bangladesh’s Awami League, was discovered on the evening of August 26, 2024, in a betelnut plantation in the Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, India. The location is approximately 1.5 kilometers from the India-Bangladesh border. This discovery has been confirmed by the local police and reported by the Indian national media.
Panna, who was a former general secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, had been in hiding following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024. According to family sources, he attempted to flee to India through the Sylhet region after the government’s fall. On the morning of August 26, Panna, along with several others, reportedly crossed into Meghalaya through the Tamabil area in Sylhet. By 6 a.m., they had reached a nearby mountain, where Panna began experiencing severe breathing difficulties and was unable to continue. It is believed that he died while attempting to escape.
Meghalaya Police identified Panna through his Bangladeshi passport, which was found with his body. The body has been sent to Khliehriat Civil Hospital for further identification and processing. Police Superintendent Giri Prasad stated that the post-mortem was conducted at the hospital, and the body is being kept in the morgue for further procedures.
There are conflicting reports regarding the circumstances of Panna’s death. While some sources suggest he might have died of a cardiac arrest while trying to cross into India, others indicate that he may have died while being pursued by the Border Security Force (BSF). The authorities are still investigating the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
Panna’s demise marks a significant event in the region, given his political stature and the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh following the fall of the Awami League government. The investigation into his death continues as authorities seek to clarify the details of his final moments.
