One of Bangladesh's top badminton umpires, Ismail Najib Russell, has died under mysterious circumstances in India. He was a panel umpire of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and had traveled to Assam to officiate an international badminton tournament.  

The 52-year-old umpire’s body was found in a hotel in the city of Guwahati. Russell was a well-known figure in Bangladeshi badminton and a current member of the federation's executive committee.  

“Being a BWF panel umpire, he had gone to officiate matches. He was scheduled for a match today. When he did not show up on the court, the organizers went to his hotel. After knocking on the door without a response, they broke it open and found Russell lifeless,” said Zobaidur Rahman Rana, a former general secretary of the Bangladesh Badminton Federation and a national champion.  

The death comes just days before an international badminton tournament is set to take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Initial reports suggest he might have suffered a heart attack.  

Russell was a familiar face in Bangladeshi badminton, known for his umpiring in major tournaments across South Korea, Japan, and other parts of the world. In addition to his umpiring career, he was an active member of the federation's current executive committee.