A 13-year-old girl drowned in Harirampur upazila of Manikganj on Thursday morning, 1 October.
The victim, identified as Anisa Akter, was from Satti village in Chala Union. She was the daughter of Anwar Hossain, who works at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar. Anisa was a student at a madrasa in Cox’s Bazar.
According to her aunt, Parvin Akter, Anisa’s mother had travelled from Cox’s Bazar to their village home two days before the incident after Anisa’s grandmother fell ill. Anisa accompanied her mother on the trip.
On Thursday morning, Anisa reportedly went out for a walk and headed towards the Kumpাড় area near the Satti New Bridge. At some point, she fell into the water for reasons that were not immediately clear.
A child who was with her reportedly returned home and informed the family after seeing what had happened. Anisa’s uncle, Zahidur Rahman, then rushed to the area and found her submerged in the water.
He rescued the teenager and took her to Harirampur Upazila Health Complex for treatment. However, doctors said she had died before reaching the hospital.
Pritam Dey, a medical officer working in the emergency department of Harirampur Upazila Health Complex, said Anisa was brought to the facility after her death.
The incident has left the family and local residents mourning the sudden loss of the teenager. Anisa had travelled from Cox’s Bazar with her mother only two days earlier because of her grandmother’s illness. Her death came during what was intended to be a temporary family visit.
The circumstances leading to the drowning were not immediately established. The available information does not indicate whether Anisa was swimming or carrying out any activity in the water before the incident. It was also not immediately clear how deep the water was or precisely how she fell in.
The incident once again highlights the risks faced by children and teenagers around waterways, particularly when the circumstances of an accidental fall are unclear. Rivers, canals, ponds and other bodies of water are common around many rural settlements, making awareness and close supervision important, especially for younger children.
Harirampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge J. O. M. Tawfiq Azam said police were informed of the incident and a team was sent to the upazila health complex.
No further details about the circumstances of the drowning or any subsequent legal action were immediately available.
