Two young cousins drowned in a pond in Magura’s Mohammadpur upazila on Tuesday (21 July), in a tragic incident that has left their families and local residents mourning.
The deceased were identified as two-year-old Raisa, daughter of Aminur Rahman, and three-year-old Rafia, daughter of Alinur Rahman. The two girls were cousins, as their fathers are brothers. They lived in Mousha village, where the incident took place.
According to local residents, the two children went outside their homes to play in the morning. As time passed and the girls did not return, family members became concerned and began searching for them in and around the neighbourhood.
The search eventually led relatives to a pond located close to the family home. The two children were found floating in the water. Their relatives immediately pulled them from the pond and rushed them to Mohammadpur Upazila Health Complex in the hope of saving their lives.
However, doctors examined the children and declared both dead.
The incident has cast a pall of grief over Mousha village, where the deaths of the two young cousins have deeply affected their families and neighbours. The tragedy also highlights the dangers faced by young children living near ponds and other open bodies of water, particularly when they are playing outdoors without close adult supervision.
In rural areas of Bangladesh, ponds are a common feature around homes and settlements and are often used for bathing, fishing and other household activities. At the same time, their proximity to residential areas can pose serious risks to young children who may accidentally approach or fall into the water.
Mohammadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamim Ahmed said the police were informed about the deaths by the hospital authorities.
“After receiving the information, we sent police to the scene. Preliminary information suggests that the two children died after drowning in the pond,” he said.
Police said they were looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The deaths have once again underscored the need for families and communities to remain particularly vigilant about the safety of young children around ponds and other open water bodies.
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