2-year-old Sajid pulled up from shaft after 32 hours, declared dead at hospital

Despite a 32-hour frantic rescue effort, doctors have declared two-year-old Sajid dead after he was retrieved from an abandoned deep tube-well shaft in Rajshahi's Tanore upazila on Thursday (11 December) night.

Tanore Upazila Health Complex Officer Dr Barnabas Hasdak confirmed the death. He said, "After conducting examinations, we declared him dead at 9:40pm. He was brought to us in a deceased state."

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Sajid was pulled out of the shaft around 9:15 pm following relentless efforts by firefighters that began the previous day, Fire Service and Civil Defence Director (Operation and Maintenance) Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters tonight.

The child was located after rescuers excavated up to 45 feet. He was then rushed to the Tanore Upazila Health Complex, where he was declared dead.

The incident occurred around 1pm on Wednesday (10 December) when Sajid accidentally fell into the unused deep tube well while accompanying his mother near a field close to their home. Locals initially attempted a rescue but failed and alerted the Fire Service.

Within an hour, the local firefighting team reached the spot and began ventilation efforts. Additional units from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj later joined the operation. Rescuers first used a charge-vision camera to locate the child but found no trace within the first 35 feet.

This prompted overnight excavation beside the well to begin creating a horizontal tunnel, which continued into Wednesday.

Officials from the Fire Service, local administration, and medical teams have been monitoring the operation, while hundreds of anxious residents gathered at the site, praying for the safe recovery of little Sajid.