Unknown criminals strangled the driver of a microbus and snatched the vehicle from him at the capital's Khilkhet early yesterday.

Police recovered the body of Ismail Hossain, 22, from the area's Lonjeni Para and suspected that the miscreants killed Ismail to snatch the microbus.

Md Mazharul Islam, sub-inspector, Khilkhet Police Station, said the victim's hands and legs were tied with ropes and his mouth gagged with scotch tape.

A belt was also found wrapped around his neck, he said.

The victim's elder brother, Enamul Haque, said Ismail used to drive the microbus of Lutfur Rahman of Uttara. The microbus was used to carry the staff of an Ashulia garment factory.

Enamul and the microbus owner said they talked with Ismail for the last time around 10:30pm Thursday. Later his cell phone was found switched off, they added.

Enamul filed a murder case in this connection. The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College morgue for autopsy.