2 cousins drown in Padma River in Chapainawabganj

Two cousin brothers drowned while bathing in the Padma River in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, local authorities said on Sunday noon (May 31).

The incident occurred at the Bahalabari Ghat area under Noyalavanga Union.

The deceased were identified as Safi, son of Jamal, and Junaid, son of Kamal. Both were residents of the former Lavanga village in Noyalavanga Union and were eighth-grade students.

According to family members and local sources, the two boys went to bathe in the river near their homes around 12pm. At one point, they reportedly slipped into deep water and went missing.

Local residents and family members immediately launched a search operation after noticing their absence. One of the boys was recovered from the river unconscious shortly afterward, but he was already dead. The body of the other boy was found about an hour and a half later.

Local resident Kawsar said the two victims were first cousins. Junaid’s father, Kamal, works for a pharmaceutical company in Dinajpur and had returned to the village to celebrate Eid with his family.

Confirming the incident, Shibganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Matiur Rahman said police had been dispatched to the scene and necessary legal procedures would be taken in accordance with the law.