RCMP in Nanaimo say they are investigating after a missing man was found dead off Highway 19A on Wednesday.

The body of 23-year-old Mahadi Redwan was found off the highway, between Turner Road and Mostar Road, on Nov. 12. 

He had previously been reported missing on Nov. 5.

While his body was located on Nov. 12, police say they believe he died roughly 10 days before that.

“Investigators believe the circumstances surrounding Mr. Redwan’s death occurred at that location on the evening of November 2, 2025, at around 8:15 p.m.,” said RCMP in a release Thursday.

Mounties say Redwan’s death is “considered a criminal investigation” and are asking anyone who was in the area on Nov. 2, or who has dashcam video of the area at that time, to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

CHEK News spoke with friends of the victim on Thursday who say Mahadi Redwan had come to Canada about 6 months ago to make money to support his family and pregnant wife back home in Bangladesh.

“I am completely devastated because he was the kindest soul that I have ever met. He was the most honest person that I have ever met and he was just the best person that you could be friends with,” said Motaher Bhuiyan.

His friends say he worked two jobs and had finished his shift at the Wendy’s in the Hammond Bay Centre Shopping Mall that evening then made his way south to the Thrifty Foods at Longwood Station where he used a bank machine.

That’s where they believe he called two friends to ask for a ride to his home near VIU but they were busy.

He wasn’t reported missing until November 5th then found in the ditch south of Thrifty Foods seven days later.

“I feel like I am responsible for what happened to him because I brought him to Nanaimo in the first place,” added Bhuiyan. “I helped him get the job and everything and then he asked me, the last person he contacted was me so I completely feel guilty that I could not help him.”

“Til now we are not sure what happened. It could be anything, could be anything,” said Rony Howlader. “We are not sure 100% and it’s a really sad situation for us because it was Sunday night and nobody even looked for him the whole night, that’s so sad.”

RCMP investigators say they believe this was an isolated incident and there is no risk to public safety.