Award-Winning Diver Dies During River Duty

The death of Fire Service diver Sadik Hossain (Shuvo) while carrying out official duties in the Shitalakkhya River in Narayanganj has cast a deep shadow of grief over his family, colleagues and his home village. The young diver, who had recently been honoured with a state medal for bravery and dedicated service, lost his life while performing the very work that had earned him national recognition. His sudden death has been described as an irreparable loss, not only for his family but also for the wider community that knew him as a humble, disciplined and courageous individual.

Sadik Hossain was from Kumrakandi village in Ward No. 4 of Goalanda Municipality in Rajbari district. He was the son of Ashraf Ali. Family members said he had become the principal source of support for the household and was widely respected in the area for his honesty, modesty and commitment to helping others.

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, maintenance work was underway from Thursday morning near a jetty at the Fire Ghat area of Nitaiganj in Narayanganj city, where water hyacinths had accumulated in the Shitalakkhya River. At around 11:00 a.m., while carrying out his assigned duties, Sadik went missing beneath the water.

A specialised rescue operation began immediately after the incident was reported. Fire Service divers and rescue personnel searched the river continuously for nearly eight hours before one of Sadik’s fellow divers recovered his body from the riverbed at approximately 7:00 p.m. The tragic outcome left colleagues devastated, particularly because the victim was himself a highly trained rescue diver.

Following the completion of a post-mortem examination, the first funeral prayer was held on Friday at the headquarters of the Fire Service and Civil Defence in Dhaka, where colleagues and officials paid their respects. His body was later taken to his native village in Goalanda. A second funeral prayer was scheduled at the Kumrakandi Eidgah ground at around 5:30 p.m., after which he was laid to rest at the municipal cemetery.

Although his career in the Fire Service lasted only a few years, Sadik had already established a reputation for professionalism and exceptional courage. Official records show that he joined the Fire Service and Civil Defence on 24 October 2021 and served as a diver at the Narayanganj River Port Fire Station. Throughout his service, he took part in numerous rescue operations in rivers and other water bodies, demonstrating skill, discipline and bravery in hazardous conditions.

In recognition of those contributions, he was awarded the President’s Fire Service and Civil Defence (Service) Medal on 19 May this year. The fact that a recipient of one of the organisation’s highest honours lost his life while carrying out his duties has deeply affected fellow firefighters and rescue personnel across the service.

Scenes of mourning unfolded at his family home on Friday morning as relatives, neighbours and residents from surrounding areas gathered to pay their final respects. The atmosphere was marked by profound sorrow, with grieving family members struggling to come to terms with the loss.

Among the most heart-rending moments was the grief of his mother, Lili Begum, who clutched her son’s state medal while repeatedly breaking down in tears. Speaking through sobs, she recalled that Sadik had married Sadia Khatun only two years ago and that the young couple had been building a happy life together.

“My Sadik was an extraordinary son,” she said. “I cannot understand how I have lost someone so good.”

She also revealed that she had spoken to her son by telephone only three days before the incident. Sadik had told her that he planned to return home on Sunday and had asked his father to send him Tk 5,000 because he was short of money. According to the family, the money had already been sent. His long-awaited journey home, however, never happened.

The grieving mother questioned how a professionally trained diver could lose his life in the water and called for a fair, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. She said the family deserved clear answers about exactly how the accident occurred.

Local resident and former Goalanda municipal councillor Fazlul Haque described Sadik as an exceptionally polite, responsible and honest young man whose character had earned widespread admiration. He urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the facts and take any necessary departmental action if required.

He also noted that Sadik had been the sole earning member of his family and appealed to the government to provide appropriate financial and humanitarian support to his widow and other dependants so they could face the future with greater security.

Sadik Hossain’s death is a stark reminder of the risks faced daily by Fire Service personnel. Whether responding to fires, conducting river rescues or carrying out hazardous recovery operations, these emergency responders routinely place themselves in danger to protect the public. Their acts of bravery often save countless lives, yet tragedies such as this underscore the heavy personal cost that can accompany a life dedicated to public service.