A tourist drowned in the sea at Cox’s Bazar beach on Friday evening, while lifeguards rescued two others alive in critical condition.
The deceased was identified as Md Seemanto, 18, a second-year HSC student of Wali Nawaz Khan College and a resident of the Sholakia area in Kishoreganj district.
According to Mahbub Alam, supervisor of the beach staff appointed by the district administration, Seemanto was among a group of 10 to 12 friends who arrived in Cox’s Bazar from Kishoreganj on 16 September and checked into Hotel World Beach Resort in the Kalatali area.
At around 6pm on Friday, the group went into the sea to bathe between Sugandha and Kalatali points. At one stage, Seemanto and two others were caught in strong currents and swept away.
Lifeguards rescued the two others alive in critical condition, but Seemanto was washed away.
Mahbub Alam said lifeguards and beach workers conducted search and rescue operations in the area and nearby locations. At around 8:15pm, they recovered Seemanto floating in the sea at the same point.
He was taken to Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital, where the duty doctor declared him dead.
Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station Sheikh Mohammad Ali said one tourist died while bathing in the sea and two others were rescued alive.
He said the body has been kept at the morgue of Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital.
The OC added that the body will be handed over after the deceased’s relatives arrive in Cox’s Bazar, and legal action will be taken regarding the matter.
