Five girls drown while bathing in river branch in Chapainawabganj

Five girls drowned while bathing in a branch of the Padma River in Char Chakla village under Debinagar Union of Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila on Friday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Sumaiya, 9, and Abida, 7, daughters of Masud Rana; Sumaiya, 12, and Suraiya, 9, daughters of Nezam Uddin; and Sharifa, 8, daughter of Shariful Islam. They were relatives, including maternal and paternal cousins.

According to relatives, most villagers were at a mosque for Friday prayers when the children went to the river without informing anyone. Later, locals learned that they had drowned and rushed to the spot. They rescued the children from the water, but all five had already died.

Khatija, mother of two of the deceased girls, broke down in tears, saying her husband, Nizam ul Haque, is working abroad as a mason and could not attend the funeral prayers after learning of the deaths. “My two elder children have answered Allah’s call. What can I say to their father?” she said.

Omar Ali Panna, the grandfather of the two girls, said he did not know how he would explain the tragedy to his son or console him.

Relative Touhid Alam confirmed the incident. Former Debinagar Union chairman A G M Sahedul Alam Bishwas Palash said the five girls had drowned in a branch of the Padma River and preparations were underway for their burial.

Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ekramul Hossain confirmed the deaths and said permission had been given for the burial of the bodies. Additional Superintendent of Police A.N.M. Wasim Firoz said a police team had been sent to the scene to collect details and take necessary action.

Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Maruf Afzal Rajon described the incident as tragic and said the upazila administration had provided financial assistance to the bereaved families.

-HIS