A schoolboy drowned while bathing in the Matamuhuri River in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Monday.
The deceased was Ador Das, 12, son of expatriate Pradip Das of Bharamuhuri Khodarkum Hindupara in Ward 4 of Chakaria municipality.
He was a seventh-grade student at Chakaria Korak Bidyapith.
The incident took place around noon at the Matamuhuri Bridge point.
“Ador went to bathe in the river with his friends at noon and was swept into quicksand. He was later rescued and taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead,” the victim’s relative Ranjit Das said.
“The risky condition in the river has been created because of illegal sand extraction,” he added.
Locals alleged that long-running illegal sand lifting from the river has created deep pits and quicksand at different points, making the area dangerous for people.
Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Monir Hossain said police were sent to the spot after receiving information that a schoolboy had drowned in the Matamuhuri River.
“As the family had no complaint, the body was handed over to the relatives after legal procedures,” he said.
Earlier, on 8 May, another school student, Nur Elahi Nadim, 13, drowned in the Matamuhuri River near Khandakerpara Mosque in Ward 5 of Uttar Kahariaghona area under Chakaria municipality.
