643 unclaimed bodies recovered, buried in Dhaka in 2025

In 2025, a total of 643 unclaimed bodies were recovered and buried across Dhaka, according to data from Anjuman Mufidul Islam.

Of these, 461 were interred at the Rayerbazar graveyard and 175 at the Jurain cemetery, while seven bodies of other faiths were cremated at the Postogola crematorium. On average, nearly 54 unidentified bodies were buried each month, or about two per day.

The figure marks an increase from 2024, when 570 unclaimed bodies were buried. Police data shows that between September 2024 and December 2025, 4,732 murder cases were recorded nationwide. Crime analysts link the rise in unclaimed bodies to an uptick in killings and conflicts ahead of elections.

Monthly burial numbers at Rayerbazar in 2025 were: January 51, February 41, March 56, April 29, May 53, June 60, July 50, August 23, September 23, October 40, November 28, and December 7.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Talebur Rahman of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said, unidentified bodies are handed over to Anjuman Mufidul Islam for burial. “Bodies cannot be preserved for long periods, so immediate burial is necessary,” he added.

Human rights organisations stress the state’s responsibility to identify unclaimed bodies and return them to families after proper investigation. However, the lack of a central database and insufficient resources within law enforcement prevent timely identification.

Rivers and canals are increasingly used as sites to dispose of victims, according to the Bangladesh Navy. Last year, at least 440 bodies were recovered from rivers, 141 of which remain unidentified. Most of these bodies were later transferred to Anjuman Mufidul Islam for burial.

Police and forensic officials note that delayed reporting by families—often five to seven days after disappearance—complicates identification and investigation. Advanced nations rely on central biometric databases, said Chittagong University criminology expert Dr. Sakhawat Hossain. “Without such systems, law enforcement struggles to identify victims and solve homicide cases efficiently,” he added.

Recently, two partially decomposed bodies, estimated to be 35–40 years old, were recovered from Pallabi Doba and Turag Lake. If identities cannot be established, the bodies will be buried as unclaimed at Anjuman Mufidul Islam.

Bangladesh Navy Chief Additional IGP Kusum Dewan noted that even when bodies are recovered from water, unidentified remains pose the biggest challenge to ensuring investigation and justice.