SUST student found dead after drowning while touring Bichanakandi

A student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) who went missing after drowning in the waters of Bichanakandi tourist spot in Sylhet’s Gowainghat has been found dead.

The deceased, Shanto Bonik, was a student of the Petroleum and Mining Engineering (PME) department from the 2023–24 academic session. He hailed from Thakurgaon district.

University Proctor Professor Md. Mokhlesur Rahman confirmed that Shanto’s body was recovered around 10:00pm on Friday (May 15).

He said the university authorities had informed the victim’s family and were completing all legal formalities locally before sending the body to his hometown.

“We requested the family not to travel immediately as it is a long journey. We are handling the legal procedures from here and will send the body to Thakurgaon after completing all formalities,” he said.

According to police and local sources, Shanto was among a group of 10 to 11 students who visited the popular tourist destination in the afternoon. While swimming in the clear waters of Bichanakandi, sudden upstream rainfall triggered a strong flash current in the area.

At one stage, Shanto was swept away by the powerful current and disappeared underwater.

Hearing the screams of his friends, local residents rushed to the spot and began rescue efforts using boats. Later, members of Tourist Police and Bangladesh Police from Gowainghat Police Station joined the operation.

Shanto had reportedly gone missing around 4:00pm before rescuers recovered his body several hours later.