The bodies of three individuals were recovered from the Shitalakshya River in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi district, following a tragic incident where four people went missing while bathing. The deceased have been identified as Md Obaidullah, 38, of Bhangal village in Kaliganj, Gazipur; Shanta, 16, of Phulbaria village in Kapasia; and Sourav, 18, son of Majnu Mia of Shibpur. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon when three visitors drowned in the river after visiting a relative’s house. Another person, Md Shanto, 24, son of Juel of Tangail, went missing while attempting to rescue them.
A diving team from Bhairab found the bodies on Saturday morning. Islam Khan, a leader of the Shibpur Fire Service, confirmed the recovery. The incident took place around 4:30pm on Friday near Lakhpur village in Dulalpur union. The three visitors had gone to Majnu Mia’s house and later joined family members for a bath in the Shitalakshya. They reportedly drowned as they could not swim. Sourav was swept away by the strong current while trying to rescue them.
Locals began searching the river immediately after the incident, but without success. Fire service personnel then initiated a search operation, which was suspended after nightfall. The operation resumed on Saturday morning with the arrival of the Bhairab diving team, who successfully recovered the three bodies. Rescue efforts are still ongoing to locate Md Shanto.
Mohammad Kohinur Mia, officer-in-charge of Shibpir Police Station, stated that legal steps would be taken after completing the rescue operation, in consultation with the families of the deceased. The Shitalakshya River, known for its strong currents, poses a significant risk to swimmers, especially those unfamiliar with the water.
This tragic event underscores the dangers of swimming in rivers without proper safety measures. Local authorities often warn against such activities, but the allure of natural water bodies during hot weather can lead to risky behavior. The community is now mourning the loss of these individuals, while rescue teams continue their efforts to find the missing person.
