New Delhi: The body of 32-year-old Bangladeshi journalist Sarah Rahanuma was discovered floating in Hatirjheel Lake in Dhaka, according to local media reports. Rahanuma, who served as a newsroom editor and anchor at Gazi TV, was reported missing earlier, and her death has sparked concern over press freedom in Bangladesh.Ex-Prime Ministers son condemns incidentFollowing the grim discovery, Wazed, the son of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, condemned the incident as a brutal attack on freedom of expression. In a social media post on X, he expressed his outrage, stating, The death of Rahmuna Sara Gazi is another brutal attack on freedom of expression in Bangladesh. Gazi TV, the channel where Rahanuma worked, is noted for its secular stance and is owned by Golam Dastagir Gazi, who was recently arrested.Eyewitness accounts, last messagesAn eyewitness who transported Rahanumas body to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) reported, I saw the woman floating in Hatirjheel Lake, and then she was brought to DMCH, where doctors declared her dead. Prior to her death, Rahanuma had posted a poignant message on Facebook, expressing regret about unfulfilled plans and a sense of despair, stating, It is better to die than to live a life akin to death.Hospital responseInspector Bachchu Mia from Hatirjheel police station confirmed that an incident report has been filed, and Rahanumas body is now in the DMCH morgue. The authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, which has further intensified concerns about journalist safety in Bangladesh.
