Body of AL leader found floating in the Buriganga

Duronto Biplob had big plans for the benefit of farmers. He initiated two projects. One was to help organic farmers, such as himself, get rid of pests with the help of insects called "black soldiers" and the other was for a more nutritious fodder for cattle.

But he could not see the fruits of his labour.

His body was found floating in the Buriganga in Pagla area of Narayanganj's Fatullah on Saturday. The back of his head had been bashed in and there were several injury marks on his chest.

The 51-year-old had been missing since November 7. The last location of his phone was Muslimbagh of Kamrangirchar.

That day around 3:00pm, Duronto called his mother who lives in Mohammadpur and told her he would be dropping by later in the day.

He never showed up.

Concerned, the family started looking for him. They eventually filed a general diary on November 9 with South Keraniganj Police Station, said his brother Durjoy Biplob.

Duronto lived alone at Kholamora in Dakkhin Keraniganj near his farm, where he and his two friends have been growing organic vegetables, fruits and other crops for four years. His wife and 15-year-old daughter live in Eskaton in the capital.

"He was struck with a blunt object," said Mohammad Mofijuddin Nipun, medical officer of Narayanganj General Hospital, after an autopsy.

"He was killed two to three days ago," he told The Daily Star.

As the news of his murder spread, condolences started pouring in on his Facebook page.

Many expressed astonishment that one could do such a thing to a person so devoted to eco-friendly farming.

Duronto got into politics when he was a student. He was a general secretary of Jahangirnagar University unit of Chhatra League.

So keen he was on farming and its expansion that he eventually became a member of ruling Awami League's central sub-committee on agricultural affairs.

A number of former JU students and friends who knew him from Chhoto Ilashpur of Netrakona's Purbodhala said he was a nice person and popular among students in the university.

Duronto's brother-in-law Imrul Khan said it was hard to believe that a man like him could be murdered this way.

He said he never heard that Duronto had enmity with anyone.

Shah Zaman, officer-in-charge of South Keraniganj Police Station, said they were trying to crack the case.

He said they questioned the temporary manager of his farm and a staffer of a courier service as those two spoke to Duronto last.

Zaman, however, said they did not get any useful information from them.

Duronto was laid to rest at Rayer Bazar Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard after Magrib prayers yesterday.