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Published : 15 May 2026, 09:00 PM
A student of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has gone missing after going into the water while visiting Bichhanakandi, a tourist destination in the Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet.
Shanto Bonik, a student in the Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering at SUST for the 2023-24 academic session, has been unaccounted for since 5:15pm on Friday, according to some of his department classmates.
Tanjid Rahman Apurbo, president of the department's association, said Shanto and 10-11 of his batchmates went to Bichanakandi in the afternoon.
Soon afterwards, he went missing after he went down into the water, said Apurba.
"We were visiting another spot nearby when we heard the news."
He complained that it took more than two hours after the incident for the diving team and the administration to visit the scene.
Around 6:45pm, SUST Students Counselling and Guidance Office Director Prof Mohammad Sayful Islam said: "We are not lacking in our efforts.
“We came to know about the matter around 5:30pm. Even though we called the deputy commissioner immediately, he could not be reached," Prof Sayful said.
He said, “Divers are on their way to the spot and so is our team.”
The university's Proctor Prof Md Mokhlesur Rahman told bdnews24.com around 7:30pm: "Our diving team has reached the scene. There has been a slight delay due to the damaged roads."
The proctor said they have informed his family of his death.
Since his village home is far away, it may take longer for his family members to reach Sylhet, he said, adding: “So, we’ve requested them not to come.
“Instead, we’ll send the body to them once all legal procedures are completed,” said Prof Rahman.
Late on Friday night, the proctor said the body was being taken to a local hospital, which would issue a death certificate.
After that, the corpse will be taken to a local police station, he said.
“We’ve objected to his post-mortem. The body will be taken to the university campus for the remaining formalities before finally being sent to Thakurgaon," said Prof Rahman.
Ibrahim Bin Islam, another student of the department, said Shanto had gone with them went on a “batch tour”.
Three of the batchmates, including Shanto, who knew how to swim, went into the water around 5pm, Ibrahim said.
“But the current was strong. When he was swept away, a local woman tried to save him. But she failed,” he added.
Later, some other locals started searching for him, but in vain.
They called the divers, who arrived much later, said Ibrahim.
He alleged that the divers from the Fire Service first refused to help as it was already 6pm when they reached the scene.
“We had to force them repeatedly until they agreed to start the search operation,” said Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, the Gowainghat police chief did not respond to phone calls despite repeated attempts to get a comment.
On Jan 30, a student named Musab Amin from the university’s electrical and electronic engineering department drowned while visiting Lalakhal, a tourist spot in Sylhet.
