Published : 23 Jul 2023, 02:13 AM
Updated : 23 Jul 2023, 02:13 AM
Fire service divers have recovered the body of a teenage girl after she leapt into Dhaka’s Hatirjheel around midnight on Saturday.
The girl was identified as Aklima Akhtar Ria, about 16 years of age.
The incident was reported to the fire service around 12:05 am on Sunday, said Fire Service Control Room official Nazrul Islam.
Fire service personnel went to the scene and recovered the girl’s body.
When the girl jumped into the water, a teenage boy nearby also leapt in to try and rescue her, the fire service official said. He could not find any trace of her and swam to shore. The fire service then searched the water, recovered the body and turned it over to police.
The girl had passed her SSCs from the Vidyaniketan in Banani, said Hatirjheel Police Station chief Awlad Hossain.
She had left home on Friday after an argument with her family, who live near Bhatara Police Station, he said.
The family then informed Bhatara police of the incident, and the law enforcers began looking for her. Using information technology, they tracked the girl to the Hatirjheel Police Plaza. When police attempted to get her, she panicked and jumped into the water.
Immediately Noman, who was selling cotton candy nearby, leapt in after her, OC Awlad said. But, as the girl sank immediately, he lost sight of her.
“At first, we thought he was in a relationship with the girl, but later we confirmed that he sold cotton candy nearby. The brave 19-year-old man jumped into the water to try and save her.”
“The incident occurred around 11:15-11:30 pm. The fire service later recovered the body.”
