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A 15-year-old madrasa student drowned after being swept away by strong waves and currents while bathing in the sea at Inani Beach in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar, on Thursday. Fifteen others were rescued alive.
The victim was identified as Mohammad Shanto Islam, son of Mozammel Hossain, a resident of Keraniganj in Dhaka.
According to Ukhia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Atikur Rahman, a group of 15 to 16 madrasa students from Keraniganj visited the beach and entered the water at around 11:30am on Thursday.
At one point, several students were swept away by strong waves and currents. People on the beach rushed to their rescue, managing to bring 15 of them to safety. Shanto, however, remained missing.
Following a search operation involving Coast Guard personnel, tourist police and beach workers, his body was recovered from the sea at around 12:30pm.
Mahbubul Alam, supervisor of the beach workers deployed by the district administration, confirmed the recovery.
Police said they prepared an inquest report and sent the body to the Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
The latest incident comes just over two weeks after five tourists went missing while bathing at Pechar Dwip beach in Himchhari, Cox’s Bazar, on October 14. Three bodies were recovered that afternoon, while the remaining two were found the following day by Fire Service personnel and beach workers. Three of the victims were university students.
The repeated incidents have heightened concerns over tourist safety along Cox’s Bazar’s coastline, highlighting the dangers posed by strong waves and underwater currents.
The incidents underscore the need for greater public awareness, effective beach safety measures and strict compliance with warnings and instructions from lifeguards and rescue personnel.