Fisherman dragged away by crocodile in Sundarbans found dead 7 hours later

His family will receive Tk 300,000 in government compensation as he had entered the forest with a permit

A fisherman has been killed in a crocodile attack while catching crabs in the Sundarbans. His body was recovered nearly seven hours later.

The victim, 32-year-old Subrata Mondal, from Dhangmari village in Khulna’s Dacope Upazila, was dragged underwater by the predatory reptile on Tuesday afternoon while swimming across the Karamjal canal in the Chandpai range, according to officials.

Forest Officer Howlader Azad Kabir said Subrata and four others had entered the forest earlier that morning with valid permits. After a day’s crab fishing, they were crossing the canal to return home when a crocodile lunged at him, bit his leg, and pulled him under.

His companions tried to save him to no avail. They subsequently informed villagers, who then began a search along the canal.

“At 5:30pm, the body was seen again in the crocodile’s mouth. Later, around 6:30pm, when the crocodile released the body, it briefly floated but sank again before it could be recovered.”

“Around 5pm, the body surfaced but a crocodile took it down again. Half an hour later, it reappeared in the crocodile’s mouth. Later, around 6:30pm, the body was briefly spotted floating, but sank again before it could be retrieved,” said Kabir.

The body was eventually recovered at 10:30pm. Officials believe Subrata died from lack of oxygen during the struggle underwater. Marks were found on his right leg.

The body was handed over to Subrata's family the same night without a post-mortem.

Kabir said Subrata’s family would receive Tk 300,000 in government compensation as he had entered the forest legally with a permit.