Dhaka News: Sarah Rahanuma, a TV journalist in Bangladesh, was reported dead in Dhaka after her body was recovered from a lake in the capital city on Wednesday, media reports said.
The 32-year-old was a 'newsroom editor' at Gazi TV, a local satellite and cable TV channel owned by the Gazi Group of Golam Dastagir Gazi, a former minister who was recently arrested after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government earlier this month.
The body of the journalist was found floating in the Hatirjheel lake, according to a report in The Dhaka Tribune.
Somoy News, meanwhile, reported that her family suspects it to be a murder. The police have, however, said the cause of death would be ascertained after a post-mortem.
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Sarah lived in Kallanpur area with her husband Syed Shuvro, who she married seven years ago. Her father, Bakhtiar Shikder, is the president of Noakhali Press Club.
'It Is Better To Die Than...' Sarah's FB Post
Sarah had posted a cryptic note on her Facebook account a few days ago, and it read: "It is better to die than to live a life akin to death."
She posted a status on Tuesday night also, tagging someone she called a "friend". "It was nice having a friend like you. God bless you always. Hope, you'll fulfill all your dreams soon. I know we had a lots of planning together. Sorry, can't fulfill our plannings. May god bless you in every aspects of your life," Sarah wrote.
Hours later, her body was seen floating in the lake. Pedestrian pulled it out and took it to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where she was declared dead on arrival, the DT report said.
According to the Somoy News report, Sarah had left her office in Segunbagicha around 9 pm on Tuesday. Quoting family members, the report said an office vehicle usually dropped her home every night, but she left the office with a friend on a motorcycle Tuesday.
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Sarah's husband Syed Shuvro reportedly learnt of her death around 3 am, after her body had been brought to the hospital.
Taking to X, Sheikh Hasina's US-based son Sajeeb Wazed hinted at a conspiracy.
"Rahmuna Sara Gazi TV newsroom editor was found dead. Her body was recovered from Hatirjheel Lake in the Dhaka city. This is another brutal attack on freedom of expression in Bangladesh. Gazi TV is a secular news channel owned by Golam Dastagir Gazi who was arrested a recently," he posted.
While Sarah's relatives present at the hospital claimed that she had been murdered, the police have said the cause of her death will be ascertained after an autopsy.
Sarah wanted to separate from husband Suvro for some time, Somoy News quoted the latter as saying. He also said they had planned to officially finalise their divorce, but could not do it due to the current situation in Bangladesh.