Four madrasa students drowned while taking a bath in Barakanda area of Chanderkandi union in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi. The heartbreaking incident took place around 11 am on Thursday (today).

The deceased were Tabia (13), daughter of Shamim Mia, Rubel Mia's daughter (9), Jannat (8), daughter of Rubel Mia, and Sumaiya (10), daughter of Billal Hossain. All of them were students of Gausia Nure Medina Mahila Madrasa in Barakanda area.

According to local sources and hospital sources, six students went to bathe in a nearby canal during the break of the madrasa. After a while, two of them somehow reached the bank and informed the locals about the matter. Later, locals and relatives rescued four people from the canal. Three of them were taken to the Raipura Upazila Health Complex, where the doctor on duty declared them dead. Another person was rescued and taken home by relatives.

Shamim Mia, the father of Tabia, is devastated by the loss of his only daughter. In a tearful voice at the hospital, he said, “I had left to catch the Titas train for work after feeding my daughter in the morning. After reaching Raipura Bazar, I received a call from home that my daughter had drowned. I rushed to the hospital after receiving the news.”

Ashrafur Rahman, a doctor at the emergency department of Raipura Upazila Health Complex, said that three children were brought to the hospital dead at around 1 pm. None of them were breathing or had a heartbeat.

Raipura Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Mojibur Rahman said, “The identities of three children have been identified in the drowning incident. I have heard that two more children have been rescued alive and the body of another child has been recovered. The next necessary measures will be taken after discussing with the family.’

This tragic incident has cast a shadow of mourning over the entire Barakanda village and Raipura upazila. The death of four young students in the same incident has created deep grief and pain among the locals.