Anxiety has further gripped Tanore upazila as rescuers continue the desperate search for two-year-old Sajid, who slipped into an abandoned deep tube-well pipe over 24 hours ago.
Fire Service teams have already dug down 42 feet, but the boy has not yet been found. Officials say they are prepared to dig even deeper, determined to reach him.
A special camera was lowered into the pipe but became stuck around 35 feet but Sajid’s presence could not be detected, they said.
Oxygen has been continuously supplied into the pipe since Wednesday afternoon and rescuers are exploring several strategies to trace Sajid’s exact position, said witnesses.
Rajshahi Fire Service Assistant Director Didarul Alam said the initial rescue was slowed because soil had already fallen into the pipe during villagers’ early attempts.
“We have supplied oxygen from the beginning. We dug 40 to 42 feet but still could not locate him. We may need to go deeper. If this approach fails, we will adopt alternative methods,” he said.
Fire Service personnel said the toddler might have slipped further down possibly beyond 40 feet.
Tanore Police Station officer-in-charge Shahinuzzaman said three Fire Service units, assisted by the Army, police and upazila administration, have been working non-stop. “The operation hasn’t ended. The digging continues,” he added.
The tragedy unfolded around 1pm on Wednesday in Koelhat village of Pachandar union where the child had been walking with his mother Runa Khatun.
Runa recounted the moment everything changed.
“I was holding his hand while carrying my younger child. Suddenly he called out ‘Ma!’ When I turned, he was gone,” she said, trembling. “I heard him calling out from inside the pipe.”
The narrow opening had been covered with straw, giving no hint of the danger beneath.
The pipe belonged to a deep tube well drilled for experimental use by the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) and had been left abandoned — uncovered and unprotected.
Villagers rushed to help but soon realised the child had slipped beyond their reach.
They informed the Fire Service who launched a full rescue operation shortly after 2:30pm.
Sajid’s father, Mohammad Rakib, who works at a garment factory in Dhaka, rushed home late at night after receiving the news.
“When I arrived, they were already trying to rescue him,” he said, standing helplessly near the excavation site. “I haven’t seen my son yet. I don’t know if he is alive. Whatever Allah decides is best,” he added.
Many of Koelhat residents spent the night sleepless waiting for any ray of good news. Many now fear the worst; no sound has been heard from the pipe for hours. The area, prone to water scarcity, has deep water layers around 130–140 feet below ground.
Locals believe the child may have fallen much deeper.
They blame the tube-well owner and authorities for leaving the abandoned drilling pipe open for years without any safety measures.
Hundreds of people gathered around the rescue site, many praying with raised hands while others watch in silence as excavators carve through tough soil.
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