The bodies of two young children, who were maternal uncle and nephew, were recovered from a pond in the Melandah Upazila of Jamalpur district on Tuesday night. The recovery was made by local residents approximately six hours after the victims had gone missing. The tragic incident has cast a profound pall of gloom over the local community.

Chronology of the Incident

According to local sources, the two children could not be located from 5:00 pm on Tuesday. Following their sudden disappearance, worried family members initiated an extensive search across various locations in the area. However, despite their comprehensive efforts, no trace of the children could be found during the initial hours.

The breakthrough in the search occurred later that evening at approximately 10:55 pm. Local residents noticed the children’s shoes and a football lying abandoned by the side of a pond situated adjacent to their house. Finding the presence of these items highly suspicious under the circumstances, several locals entered the pond to conduct a thorough underwater search. After wading through the water, they eventually discovered and retrieved the lifeless bodies of the two missing children.

Identity of the Deceased

The deceased children have been identified as residents of Rayer Bakai village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Charbani Pakuria Union within Melandah Upazila. They are:

• Annafi: An eight-year-old boy, who was the son of Abdoor Rofik.

• Rifat Hossain: A seven-year-old boy, who was the son of Monju.

Family sources confirmed that the two children shared a close familial relationship, with Annafi being the maternal uncle (mame) of Rifat Hossain.

Official Statements

The occurrence was formally confirmed by law enforcement officials. Rafiqul Islam, a Sub-Inspector (SI) of the Melandah Police Station, stated that the police had received reports regarding the two children going missing earlier in the afternoon.

Upon being notified of the developments by the local residents, a police team was dispatched to the scene. The Sub-Inspector verified that the bodies of the two minors were pulled from the pond at approximately 10:55 pm with the assistance of the local populace.

Incident Summary and Victim Profiles

The table below provides a concise summary of the profiles of the victims and the timeline surrounding the drowning incident in Jamalpur.