Two bodies recovered, one still missing after Padma river mishap

A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Tongibari, Munshiganj, as the fire service retrieved the bodies of two out of three missing individuals, a father and son duo, who went missing after a dip in the Padma branch river. The deceased have been identified as Md. Jewel Rana (40) and Riyad Ahmed Raju (45).

Riyad Ahmed Raju, hailing from Salimullah Road area in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, was one of the survivors, while his son Arif remains unaccounted for. The identity of the other rescued individual remains unknown. The bodies of the missing persons were recovered at approximately 8:30 pm. Efforts are ongoing to locate Arif.

The tragic incident occurred on Friday (April 12) around 4 pm near Dighirpar market in the upazila.

According to local authorities and witnesses, a group of approximately 30-35 individuals, including the victims, had gathered at the Padma river in Dhankora area of Dighirpar union for a leisurely dip during the Eid holidays. Despite attempts to reach the riverbank amidst the strong current, the trio was swept away by the river.

Narrating the ordeal, Bonai Mithun, a relative of the missing Rajur, stated, "While bathing in the river, they unexpectedly encountered a sand hole, leading to their disappearance in the swift current." Upon realizing the situation, Mithun promptly alerted the fire service.

Mustafa Kamal, Tongibari Fire Service in-charge, affirmed, "Our team swiftly responded to the distress call and initiated rescue operations. Additionally, a diving team from Dhaka has been dispatched to assist in the search. We have recovered two bodies thus far."

Abul Hasnat, in-charge of Munshiganj Sadar police station, along with personnel from Char Abdullah Naval Police Outpost, affirmed the ongoing collaborative efforts of the fire service and naval police in the rescue mission.