4 madrasa students drown while bathing in river in Narsingdi

Four female madrasa students drowned after being swept away by a strong current while bathing in Kakon river in Narsingdi's Raipura upazila today.

Two other children are receiving treatment at Raipura Upazila Health Complex, said police.

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The incident occurred around 11:00am in the Kakon river, a distributary of the Meghna, at Boro Kanda village under Chanderkandi union.

The deceased were identified as Tabia, 13, daughter of Shamim Mia; Sumaiya, 10, daughter of Billal Mia; and Ayesha and Jannat, both 9, whose fathers are two different men named Rubel Mia.

All were residents of Borokanda village and students of the local Gausia Noor-e-Madina Women's Madrasa.

According to police and local sources, six children went to bathe in the Kakon river near their homes when they were caught in a strong current.

Hearing their cries for help, locals rushed to the spot, rescued the children and took them to Raipura Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Tabia, Ayesha and Jannat dead.

Sumaiya died around 2:00pm while two other students are being treated at the same hospital, said Md Mujibur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Raipura Police Station.

According to family members, the six students returned home during a break from their madrasa classes and went to bathe in the nearby river.