A boy went missing on Wednesday evening after being swept away by a current in Phuleswari canal while collecting firewood in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar district.
Mohammad Sajed, 12, is the son of Nurul Islam, a resident of Hasnakata Konapara area in ward number 2 of Eidgarh union.
The incident took place around 5pm near his home.
According to local Union Parishad (UP) member Mohammad Mubin, several days of heavy rainfall triggered an intense surge of mountain runoff from upstream, creating treacherous conditions in the canal.
Sajed was collecting firewood brought down by the runoff alongside other locals when he was suddenly dragged away by the force of water.
Witnesses at the scene immediately attempted a rescue, and relatives later conducted extensive searches across various downstream sections of the Phuleswari canal. However, as of 11:30pm on Wednesday night, the boy remained untraced.
Mohammad Khorshed Alam, in-charge (IC) of Ramu Eidgarh Police Camp, confirmed that a police team was sent to the scene to assist the family in their search.
He added the extreme intensity of the current has made rescue operations significantly difficult. The police have advised the family to contact the Fire Service to support the search efforts.
