Police on Sunday afternoon recovered the hanging body of a 22-year-old restaurant employee from his living quarters at his employer's residence in Brahmanpara upazila of Comilla.

The deceased, identified as Md. Sifat Hridoy, 22, was a waiter at a restaurant in neighbouring Burichang upazila. Hridoy lived with his mother in Feni Sadar and was the son of the late Abdul Haque. His employer's home, where Hridoy and other restaurant staff resided, is located at Nagarpara village in Sahebabad union of Brahmanpara.

According to Maeen Uddin Sohail, the owner of the restaurant, Hridoy joined the restaurant about 20 days ago on the recommendation of the head chef. He had recently visited his home for five or six days due to his mother's illness and returned to work on Thursday.

"On Sunday morning, other employees left for the restaurant while Hridoy stayed back, claiming he was sick," Sohail said. When he failed to show up by afternoon, colleagues went to check on him. Finding the room locked from the inside and receiving no response, they looked through a gap in the veranda door and spotted Hridoy hanging from a ceiling fan with a traditional towel (gamcha).

Abdul Gani, Brahmanpara Police Station Inspector (Investigation), confirmed that the body was recovered and sent to the Comilla Medical College (CoMC) Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

"Based on preliminary investigation, the room was used as lodging for the restaurant staff," Gani said. "The exact cause of death will be determined after receiving the autopsy report. The family has been informed, and they are preparing to file an unnatural death case."