Anisa was the daughter of Anwar Hossain, a native of Sotti village who works at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar. Having resided with her family in the coastal district, Anisa was enrolled as a student at a local Islamic madrasa in Cox’s Bazar.

According to the victim’s paternal aunt, Parveen Akhtar, the family had recently travelled to their ancestral home in Manikganj. Anisa’s grandmother had fallen ill, prompting her mother to journey from Cox’s Bazar to Sotti village two days prior to care for the ailing relative, bringing Anisa along with her.

The fatal accident occurred on Thursday morning when Anisa went out for a stroll near the Sotti New Bridge in the Kumpar area. While walking along the riverbank, she slipped and fell into deep water under unknown circumstances. An accompanying young child witnessed the fall and immediately ran back to the village to alert the family members.

Upon receiving the alarm, Anisa’s uncle, Jahidur Rahman, rushed to the spot and dived into the water to rescue his niece. He recovered her submerged body and immediately transported her to the Harirampur Upazila Health Complex for emergency medical treatment.

However, medical personnel were unable to revive her. Dr Pritom Dey, a medical officer on duty at the emergency department of Harirampur Upazila Health Complex, confirmed that the teenager was brought dead to the hospital, having succumbed to asphyxiation caused by drowning before reaching the facility.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Harirampur Police Station, J. O. M. Toufique Azam, stated that police officers were dispatched to the health complex immediately after being informed of the incident. Law enforcement officials have initiated standard legal procedures surrounding accidental drownings before releasing the body to the bereaved family for burial.

Drowning remains a persistent public health hazard across rural Bangladesh, particularly in low-lying upazilas like Harirampur traversed by rivers and waterways. Every year, numerous children lose their lives in aquatic accidents, especially during visits to rural villages where open water bodies pose constant risks to young visitors unfamiliar with local riverbanks.