CU student still missing three days after being swept away in Cox's Bazar

A student of Chittagong University (CU) has been missing for three days after he was swept away while bathing in the sea at the Himchhari point of Cox's Bazar beach.

Despite ongoing search efforts, authorities have yet to locate the student Aritra Hasan, son of Aminul Islam from Bogura.

Speaking to The Business Standard today (11 July), Additional Deputy Inspector General of Tourist Police Apel Mahmud said, "Efforts to locate Aritra are ongoing. A coordinated search operation involving the fire service, police, lifeguards, and beach workers has been in motion since the incident.

"Information has also been shared with communities along the coastal areas."

Md Osman Gani, a supervisor at SeaSafe Lifeguard, said, "Search teams have been deployed along the coastal stretch from Maheshkhali to the Naf River estuary in Teknaf. They are working in multiple groups."

According to the Tourist Police, the incident occurred on 8 July around 7am, when Aritra and two of his classmates were pulled into the sea by strong currents.

Within two and a half hours, the body of one of the students, Sadman Rahman Sabbab, 21, was recovered from the same beach. Sabab, son of KM Anisur Rahman, was a resident of Mirpur in Dhaka.

The following morning, around 9am, the body of another student, Asif Ahmed, 22, was found around 25 kilometres north of the incident site at the Nazirartek dry fish zone. Asif hailed from Naruli Dakshinpara in Bogura sadar.

All three were students of the Development Studies Department at Chattogram University from the 2023–24 session.

Imtiaz Ahmed, regional director of SeaSafe Lifeguard, told TBS, "Several hidden underwater channels have formed at the Himchhari beach, making it extremely risky for swimming and difficult for rescue operations.

"We believe the deceased students were trapped in one of these hidden channels, which led to the tragic incident."