5 girls drown while bathing in Chapainawabganj river

Five girls aged between 7 and 12 have drowned after going for a bath in the Mora River in Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila. The girls were all cousins.

The incident occurred on Friday afternoon at Char Chakla village, according to local union council member Mojibur Rahman.

Two of the victims, Sumaiya, 9, and Abida, 7, were daughters of Md Masud.

Two others, Sumaiya, 12, and Suraiya, 9, were daughters of Nemaz Uddin.

The fifth victim was Sharifa, 8, daughter of Shariful.

All five girls were from Char Chakla village.

Local resident Touhid Alam said, “Most of the villagers had gone to the mosque for Jummah prayers and the children, without informing anyone, went to bathe in the river. No one realised what was happening. Then they drowned.”

When they were found, locals rushed into the river to try and rescue them.

A pall of grief has descended on the village following the girls’ deaths. The lamentations of the families fill the air.

Union council member Mojibur said the village next to Char Chakma village is known locally as the Mora River. It is a tributary of the Padma River. During the monsoon and other times of rain, the waters from the Padma enter the river and fill it. At other times, the river has relatively little water in it. During these dry periods, locals use it for farmland.

Md Ekramul Hossein, chief of Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police Station confirmed the deaths of the five children.