Schoolboy Drowns in Matamuhuri River Sandpit

A thirteen-year-old schoolboy tragically drowned on Monday after falling into an underwater pit created by sand extraction in the Matamuhuri River. The incident occurred at approximately 12:30 pm in the Chokoria upazila of Cox’s Bazar district. The deceased has been identified as Ador Das, a Year 8 student (seventh grade) at Chokoria Korak Vidyapith. He was the son of Pradip Das, a resident of the Khodarkum Hindupara area within the Chokoria municipality.

Incident and Rescue Efforts

According to local residents and eyewitnesses, Ador Das went to the Matamuhuri River on Monday afternoon to bathe alongside several relatives of a similar age. During the excursion, he suddenly disappeared beneath the surface of the water.

Salahuddin, a local resident who participated in the rescue operation, stated that he was present at the riverbank when Ador and his companions entered the water. He observed that Ador was initially bathing in knee-deep water. However, the boy suddenly began to sink. Salahuddin initially assumed the teenager was diving intentionally, but quickly realised he was drowning. He raised an alarm, calling out to other bystanders, and entered the river with several locals to retrieve the boy. By the time they extracted him from the water, Ador had swallowed a significant volume of water. He was rushed to the Chokoria Upazila Health Complex, where the attending medical officer pronounced him dead.

Unplanned Sand Mining and Hazards

Local representatives have attributed the fatal accident to unregulated quarrying activities in the riverbed. Mujibul Haq, a former local councillor, explained that unplanned sand extraction has left the Matamuhuri River bed riddled with deep underwater pits. Over time, silt accumulates within these excavations; however, the sediment fails to compact and remains unstable and soft. When individuals step into these concealed depressions, they become trapped in the mire and sink rapidly. According to the former councillor, Ador Das lost his life after stepping into one of these hazardous underwater cavities.

A summary of the incident and the victim’s details is compiled in the table below:

Family Grief and Official Procedures

The victim’s father, Pradip Das, is an expatriate worker who had returned to Bangladesh from abroad two months prior to the incident. He was scheduled to return to his overseas workplace within a few days. Consequently, several relatives had gathered at their family home to visit him before his departure. Ador had gone to the river to bathe with these visiting relatives of his own age group when the accident occurred. The arrival of Ador’s body at his residence caused immense grief among his parents and relatives.

Following the incident, law enforcement officials initiated standard procedures. Mohammad Monir Hossain, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chokoria Police Station, confirmed that the police recovered the body of the schoolboy and conducted an inquest report (surat-hal). Following the completion of the necessary legal and administrative formalities, the body was formally handed over to the family.