At least five children and teenagers have died, and two brothers remain missing following a series of drowning incidents across Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, and Madaripur districts on Sunday.
Nilphamari
In Dimla Upazila of Nilphamari, two young cousins drowned while bathing in a pond in Uttar Sonakhuli village under Jhunagach Chapani Union. The victims, daughters of Robiul Islam and Awal Hossain, were approximately three and five years old.
Local sources said the children had been playing near their home around 3:00 pm when they slipped away to bathe in the nearby pond. Unable to swim, they were quickly submerged and later found floating by family members.
They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Ekramul Haque Chowdhury, Chairman of Jhunagach Chapani Union Parishad, confirmed the incident and said the deaths have cast a pall over the community.
Panchagarh
In Panchagarh Sadar Upazila, two madrasa students, Abdur Rahim, 14, and Rajib Hossain Labib, 16, drowned in a pond in South Sahebijot Dashmail area of Satmera Union. Both were students in the Hifz department of Dashmail Nurani Madrasa.
Satmera Union Parishad Chairman Rabiul Islam Robi said the boys entered the pond around noon and drowned as they could not swim. Their bodies were recovered with the help of local residents. Ashraful Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station, confirmed that an unnatural death case has been filed and that the bodies were handed to their families following an inquest.
Lalmonirhat
In Lalmonirhat, two brothers, Sabbir, 16, and Shaon Ahmed, 14, went missing while bathing in the Dharla River near Moghalhat Zero Point with a friend, Mehedi Hasan, 17. All three were swept away by a strong current, though Mehedi managed to reach safety.
Local Union Parishad member Nur Alam said divers from the Fire Service and Civil Defence are conducting search and rescue operations in the river.
Madaripur
In Madaripur Sadar Upazila, a three-year-old boy, Adnan, son of Asadul Matubbar, drowned after falling into a pond in North Mahisherchar area of Panchkhola Union. He had been playing in the courtyard around noon when he fell into the water unnoticed.
His family discovered him floating shortly afterwards and rushed him to a private hospital in Madaripur town, where doctors pronounced him dead. Abul Kalam Azad, Officer-in-Charge of Madaripur Sadar Model Police Station, visited the scene and urged parents to exercise greater vigilance around water bodies, particularly during the monsoon and summer season.
Authorities have emphasised the urgent need for public awareness and safety measures to prevent further drowning incidents among children and teenagers.
