A woman has died following a crocodile attack in the Shyala River within the Sundarbans region after she was reportedly dragged into the water while collecting fish fry. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the river stretch between Joymoni village in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat and the adjoining Sundarbans area.
The deceased has been identified as Selina Begum (50). She was the wife of Abdul Sheikh of Joymoni village, located in Ward No. 9 under Chila Union of Mongla upazila.
According to information provided by the Forest Department and local sources, Selina Begum was collecting fish fry using a net in the Shyala River near a launch ghat area in the afternoon, alongside two other women fishers. At approximately 5:40 pm, a crocodile suddenly emerged from the water and attempted to drag her towards the middle of the river.
The two women accompanying her reportedly responded immediately by striking the crocodile with wooden sticks used in net fishing. Following this intervention, the crocodile released Selina Begum and submerged back into the river. Despite this, she was later found unresponsive, and local residents recovered her body from the river around 6:00 pm.
Officials from the Sundarbans East Forest Division confirmed the sequence of events. Md Hamidur Rahman, station officer of the Chandpai Range, stated that the woman was taken by a crocodile while fishing for fry and that her companions used sticks to strike the animal in an attempt to rescue her. He further noted that although she was freed, she had already died by the time her body was retrieved.
Authorities also indicated that fish fry collection in the Sundarbans is prohibited; however, the activity was being carried out at the time of the incident.
Incident Summary
Category
Details
Victim
Selina Begum (50)
Residence
Joymoni village, Ward No. 9, Chila Union, Mongla upazila
Location of Incident
Shyala River, between Joymoni village and Sundarbans area
Date
Wednesday (afternoon)
Time of attack
Around 5:40 pm
Activity
Fishing for fish fry using net
Cause
Crocodile attack in river
Immediate response
Two accompanying women struck crocodile with wooden sticks
Outcome
Victim released by crocodile; later recovered deceased
Recovery time
Around 6:00 pm
Authority statement
Confirmed by Chandpai Range Forest Station Officer
Regulatory note
Fish fry collection reported as prohibited in Sundarbans
The incident adds to documented cases of human-wildlife conflict in and around the Sundarbans waterways, where fishing and resource collection activities occasionally bring residents into contact with crocodiles inhabiting the river system.
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