BGB member among 2 missing as meghna bank collapses in Bhola

Two youths, including a member of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), went missing after a section of the Meghna River bank collapsed while they were sitting with three friends in Bhola Sadar upazila on Wednesday night.

The incident occurred around 8:00pm near Bholarkhal Fish Ghat in the Balur Math area of Shibpur Union.

The missing youths were identified as BGB member Md Amzad, 26, son of Md Ibrahim of Bhadrapara in Bhola town, and Md Rakib, 18, son of Md Babul of Ward No. 4 in Shibpur Union.

According to local residents Abdullah and Sagar, the five friends were sitting on sand-filled geobags along the riverbank after evening prayers when a large section of the bank, along with the geobags, suddenly collapsed, sending all five into the river.

Three of them managed to swim back to safety, but Amzad and Rakib were swept away by the strong current.

Amzad’s relatives said he had been on leave at home for nearly two months and was scheduled to return to his workplace on September 19. They said he had gone to the riverbank with his friends on Wednesday afternoon.

The relatives claimed they informed the Fire Service and local administration, but no rescue team had reached the spot by 10:00pm. Coast Guard personnel later arrived, stayed for some time and left, they alleged.

Md Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bhola Sadar Police Station, said police were sent to the scene after receiving the report.

As of 11:00pm, the two youths remained missing, and efforts to locate them were continuing.