Tausif Chowdhury, Carleton University student, named as homicide victim
CBC News | Posted: November 29, 2014 5:06 PM | Last Updated: December 1, 2014
Body found Thursday between Airport Parkway and South Keys Transitway station
Ottawa police have identified the city’s sixth homicide victim of 2014 as Tausif Chowhdury, a 23-year-old man from Bangladesh who was known to police.
Police say Chowdhury’s body was discovered around 7 a.m. Thursday lying in the brush off a path between the Airport Parkway and the South Keys Transitway station.
- ON MOBILE? Click here to watch Ashley Burke's latest report on reaction to Chowdhury's death
- Hammer found at scene of Thursday's homicide
Soon after, investigators located a hammer from the Sawmill Creek Reservoir nearby. They have also reviewed surveillance footage from the Greenboro and South Keys Transitway stations.
Police said they contacted the victim’s family in Saudi Arabia. On Sunday, investigators confirmed Chowdhury was known to police but he didn't have a criminal record.
Sirajum Munir Mim, a close friend of Chowdhury who lived with him for a summer, said he first came to Carleton University from Bangladesh in 2008 to study electrical engineering.
Chowdhury 'kind', 'very smart' guy
Chowdhury then left Carleton in 2011 for Windsor, saying he could not focus in Ottawa and was not doing well at school. But soon after, Chowdhury transferred to Queen's University in Kingston.
He then said he did not like the town and transferred back to Ottawa this fall to continue his degree at Carleton, Mim said.
Mim said he's shocked about the death, adding "he was a very friendly guy, it's hard to imagine he had any enemies."
"He was a good friend, very kind to everyone, very friendly … He was very smart," Mim said.
Mim said he has also spoke to Chowdhury's family in Saudi Arabia. His mother is very ill and the family does not know whether Chowdhury's father will come to Ottawa due to the illness.
Anyone with information about Chowdhury's death is asked to call the Ottawa police major crimes unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5493.