Two Schoolgirls Drown in Narsingdi Wetland

A tragic drowning incident claimed the lives of two primary school students after they entered a wetland to bathe in Raipura Upazila of Narsingdi on Friday morning, leaving their families and the local community in deep mourning.

The victims were identified as Nipa (7), daughter of Saddam Hossain, and Jannati (8), daughter of Nuruzzaman. Both children were residents of Bheluarchar village under Srinagar Union and were students of Bheluarchar Government Primary School.

According to family members and local residents, the incident occurred at around 10:00 a.m. in the Namarchar wetland, where Nipa, Jannati and several other children had gone to bathe. While playing in the water, the two girls reportedly drifted into a deeper section of the wetland and disappeared beneath the surface. The other children quickly realised something was wrong and raised the alarm, prompting nearby residents to rush to the scene.

Villagers immediately launched a search operation, entering the water in an effort to locate the children. After some time, both girls were recovered from beneath the surface and were taken without delay to Raipura Upazila Health Complex. Despite the emergency response, doctors confirmed that neither child had survived.

Medical Officer Dr Sheela of Raipura Upazila Health Complex said the children were brought to the hospital at approximately 11:30 a.m. after being rescued from the Bheluarchar area. Initial examinations indicated that both had died before reaching the hospital, leaving medical staff with no opportunity to provide life-saving treatment.

Raipura Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mujibur Rahman said police had been informed of the incident. He added that the authorities would complete the necessary legal and administrative procedures in consultation with the victims’ families.

The deaths have cast a pall of grief over Bheluarchar village. Relatives, classmates, teachers and neighbours gathered to comfort the bereaved families, many of whom described the loss as unimaginable. Local residents said the two girls were well known in the community and that their sudden deaths had deeply affected everyone.

Such incidents are an unfortunate but recurring concern in many rural parts of Bangladesh, where ponds, canals, wetlands and other open water bodies are common. During the monsoon season, rising water levels often make these locations more hazardous, particularly for young children. In many villages, children frequently use nearby water bodies for bathing or recreation, increasing the risk of drowning if they are left unsupervised, even for a short period.

Community members stressed that greater vigilance from parents and guardians is essential, especially during the rainy season when water levels can change rapidly and hidden currents or uneven depths may pose additional dangers. They also urged wider public awareness about child water safety and called on families to ensure that children are not allowed to visit ponds, wetlands or other water bodies without adult supervision.

As the community mourns the loss of two young lives, neighbours have rallied around the grieving families, hoping that increased awareness and closer supervision can help prevent similar tragedies in the future.