Missing tourist’s body recovered from Nafakhum waterfall in Bandarban

Police have recovered the body of a tourist who went missing two days ago at the Nafakhum waterfall in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban.

The deceased was identified as Iqbal Hossain, 24, son of Mofizur Islam of Rasulnagar in Demra's Sarulia union, Dhaka.

Md Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Thanchi Police Station, said a diving team from the Fire Service and Civil Defence's Agrabad Station in Chattogram retrieved the body around 4pm today (16 November).

He added that the divers, led by team chief Rahidul Islam, located the body inside an underwater cave beneath the waterfall.

On Friday, a group of 17 tourists from Demra visited Nafakhum waterfall. Iqbal went missing while bathing in the waterfall and had remained untraced since then.

Diver Rahidul Islam said the body was found stuck deep inside a cave, likely pushed in by the strong current. Three divers, equipped with oxygen, took turns working and succeeded in recovering the body after eight hours of continuous effort.

Thanchi Guides Association's General Secretary Mamun Rashid said the tourist group entered the area without any official permission.

"They did not register at the tourism information centre nor did they hire any guide," he said. "They are believed to have entered Nafakhum via the Thanchi-Alikadam Dim Pahar route and then Tindu."

Due to poor mobile network in the remote region, the group could not immediately inform authorities after Iqbal went missing, he added.

OC Nasir said the body has been brought back to the police station. It will be handed over to the family tomorrow morning.

Nafakhum, located in Thanchi's Remakri union, is one of Bandarban's most popular tourist attractions. From Thanchi town, visitors must take a two-hour engine boat ride to Remakri Bazar followed by a two-hour trek to reach the waterfall.