Tourist’s Body Recovered After 40-Hour Search

The body of a young tourist from Gazipur, who went missing while swimming in the waters of Nikli Haor in Kishoreganj, has been recovered after an intensive 40-hour search operation. Fire Service personnel retrieved the floating body from the Ghorautra River on Sunday morning, bringing a tragic end to a rescue effort that had continued since Friday afternoon.

The victim, 28-year-old Shafiqul Islam Tulu, was the son of Habibur Rahman from Kandania village in Kapasia upazila of Gazipur district. His death has cast a shadow of grief over fellow travellers, local residents and everyone involved in the rescue operation.

According to police, Tulu had travelled to Nikli Haor on Friday morning with a group of 25 tourists from Kapasia to enjoy the scenic wetland, one of Bangladesh’s most popular monsoon travel destinations. The visit turned tragic when the group encountered an unexpected incident during their boat journey.

Mahbubur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Nikli Police Station, said the tourist boat developed an engine fault while passing through the Kathalia area under Dempura Union in Nikli upazila on Friday afternoon. As the boat remained stationary, Shafiqul and two companions entered the water to swim and dive. During the activity, he was reportedly swept away by the current and disappeared beneath the surface. Despite desperate attempts by his companions to rescue him, they were unable to locate him, prompting an emergency call to the Fire Service.

A specialised diving team from the Fire Service began searching the area on Friday afternoon and continued operations throughout the following two days. Challenging conditions, including the vast expanse of the haor and underwater currents, complicated the rescue effort, preventing divers from locating the missing tourist during the initial searches.

Station Officer Ahsan Habib of the Nikli Fire Service said local residents spotted a body floating in the Ghorautra River, around two kilometres from the site of the incident, on Sunday morning. Fire Service personnel and police immediately reached the location and recovered the body, which was later identified as that of Shafiqul Islam Tulu.

Police said the body would be handed over to the victim’s family after the completion of the required legal formalities. An unnatural death case has also been registered in connection with the incident.

Nikli Haor attracts thousands of visitors every year, particularly during the monsoon season when its vast waterways and natural beauty become a major attraction. Authorities and rescue officials have once again urged visitors to exercise caution while entering open water, especially in areas where currents can become unpredictable, to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.