At least 17 children drowned across country in three days

At least 18 people, including 17 children, have drowned in separate incidents across the country over the last three days.

Today (13 June), three children - aged between 2 and 5 years- died after drowning in ponds in Kutubdia, Cox's Bazar, within an hour at noon.

Dr Rezaul Hasan, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of Kutubdia Upazila Health Complex, confirmed the matter in the evening.

The deceased have been identified as Rafa (2), daughter of Roknuzzaman of Baraghop Amjakhali village in Kutubdia, Tasib (2), son of Jasim Uddin of the same village, and Tuhin (5), daughter of Md Delwar of Uttar Baraghop village.

"A lot of children drown in ponds in Kutubdia. On Friday, three children drowned in the pond within an hour. Three children died before they were brought to the hospital," said Dr Rezaul.

Police and locals said at around 1:30pm, Rafa drowned in a pond near her house. She was taken to the hospital, where the doctors declared her dead. Then, around 2:30pm, Tasib drowned in a pond in the same village. At around the same time, Tuhin drowned in a pond near her house.

Meanwhile, Inspector Md Arman Hossain of Kutubdia Police Station said a lack of attention from guardians often results in children drowning in ponds in Kutubdia. 

"Guardians do not pay much attention to children. There is a pond next to almost every house here. Due to the lack of attention of guardians to children, children almost always die by drowning in ponds."

Earlier yesterday, at least eight people, including a pregnant woman, drowned across multiple districts.

In Thakurgaon, two siblings drowned in a river in the Sluicegate area under Haripur upazila, reports BSS.

The deceased were Sadia Akhtar, 11, and Saddam Hossain, 6, children of Aminul Islam.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Haripur Police Station Zakaria Mandal said they went to bathe in the nearby Nagar River yesterday afternoon but were swept away by the strong current.

In Manikganj, a pregnant woman and her daughter drowned in the Jamuna River at Banchamara area under Daulatpur upazila yesterday while they were bathing.

The victims were identified as Borsha Khatun, 20, a pregnant woman and daughter of Md Abdul Boyati, and Lamia Khatun, 10, daughter of Md Rahej Boyati - both residents of Banchamara Purbopara village under the upazila.

In Chattogram, a madrasah student died yesterday after sinking in a pond at Jamiatul Mamur Jame Masjid pond in South Haidthkandi village under Mirsari upazila this afternoon, reports BSS.

The deceased was identified as Salahuddin, 14, son of Jahir Uddin, a seventh-grade student of Saheirkhali Habibia Dakhil Madrasa in Mirsari upazila.

In Faridpur, two siblings, aged five and seven years old, drowned in a pond in Saltha upazila yesterday.

The siblings have been identified as Tanha Islam, 7, and Abu Talha, 5. 

According to family and local sources, the five-year-old boy drowned first. His elder sister died while trying to save him.

They were rescued from the water and brought to Boalmari Upazila Health Complex around 12pm, where Dr Shakila Azad, the duty doctor of the emergency department, declared them dead on arrival. 

In Gaibandha, the body of a child was recovered from the Bangali river near Bishpukur area under Gobindaganj upazila last afternoon.

The victim was identified as Tania, daughter of Tazinur Rahman, of the area. 

On Wednesday (11 June), in a series of incidents today (11 June), seven minors drowned in separate locations across Narayanganj, Kishoreganj, Khulna, Sylhet, and Rangpur districts.

In Narayanganj, two madrasah students, Khadija, 11 and Israt, 12, drowned while bathing in a pond in the Hajirtek area of Kalapaharia union in the district's Araihazar upazila around 3:30pm.

Meanwhile, two cousins drowned while bathing in a water-filled pit near their home in Pitua village of Kadirjangal union under Karimganj upazila of the district on Wednesday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Yasmin Akhter, 8, daughter of Shafiqul Islam, and Taiyeba Akhter, 9, daughter of Russel Mia. Both were students of a local primary school, reports UNB.

In Khulna, 13-year-old Habibur Rahman drowned in the wave pool of Rana Resort and Amusement Park in the Pankhali area of the district's Botiaghata upazila on the same day.

Botiaghata Police Station OC Mustafa Khairul Bashar said the incident appears to be a case of negligence. "No formal complaint has been made by the family."

"His body was handed over to his family," the OC added.

In Sylhet, a 16-year-old boy drowned in the Piyain River while visiting the popular tourist spot Jaflong on Wednesday afternoon.

The deceased, Mahin, was the son of Jamil Ahmed from Shahidpara village in Bayezid Bostami area in Chattogram.

On the same day, in Rangpur, the body of a seventh grader was recovered from a pond near Gobindaganj upazila parishad premises in the district at noon.

The victim was identified as Shahadat Hossain, 14, son of Masud Hossain of the upazila town, reports BSS.