Grief has engulfed the family and hometown of Fire Service diver Sadik Hossain (Shuvo), who lost his life while carrying out official duties in the Shitalakkhya River in Narayanganj. The tragedy has drawn widespread sympathy, with relatives, neighbours and colleagues mourning the death of a young rescuer who had recently been recognised by the state for his courage and dedication.
Sadik, a resident of Kumrakandi village in Ward No. 4 of Goalanda Municipality in Rajbari district, was the son of Ashraf Ali. His untimely death has left his family devastated, particularly his mother, Lily Begum, who was seen clutching the state medal her son had earned for his exemplary service while mourning his loss.
The fatal incident occurred at around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday near the Fire Ghat area of Nitaiganj in Narayanganj city. According to the Fire Service, Sadik disappeared beneath the water while clearing water hyacinths from in front of a jetty in the Shitalakkhya River as part of his assigned duties. Fellow rescuers immediately launched an extensive search operation.
After nearly eight hours of continuous efforts, another Fire Service diver recovered Sadik’s body from the river at approximately 7:00 p.m. Despite the team’s experience in underwater rescue operations, the mission ended in tragedy, leaving colleagues and family members in deep shock.
Family members said that, following the completion of a post-mortem examination, Sadik’s funeral prayers were held on Friday at the Fire Service headquarters in Dhaka. His body was later taken to his hometown, where a second funeral prayer was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Kumrakandi Eidgah ground before his burial at the municipal cemetery.
Fire Service officials said Sadik joined the organisation on 24 October 2021 and had since served as a professional diver at the Narayanganj River Port Fire Service Station. During his relatively short career, he took part in numerous rescue operations, earning a reputation for bravery, discipline and commitment to public service.
His dedication was formally recognised earlier this year when he received the President’s Fire Service and Civil Defence (Service) Medal on 19 May, one of the organisation’s highest honours for distinguished service. The award acknowledged his courage and professionalism during emergency rescue missions.
On Friday morning, Sadik’s family home was crowded with mourners who travelled from nearby villages and surrounding areas to pay their final respects. The atmosphere was filled with grief as relatives struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss of a young man widely admired for his character and sense of duty.
Holding her son’s medal close, Lily Begum broke down in tears while recalling their last conversations.
“I married my son just two years ago,” she said. “His wife, Sadia Khatun, and he were building a beautiful family together. There was no one like my Sadik. I cannot understand how someone as good as him has died.”
She also recalled speaking to him over the telephone only three days before the incident. According to her, Sadik had told her that he planned to return home the following Sunday and had asked his father to send him 5,000 taka because he was short of money. His father transferred the amount as requested.
The grieving mother questioned how a highly trained professional diver could lose his life while performing duties in water. She called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, saying she wanted clear answers about what had happened.
Local residents echoed that demand. Former Goalanda Municipality councillor Fazlul Haque, who knew Sadik personally, described him as one of the finest young men in the area.
“Young men like Sadik are rare,” he said. “We demand a proper investigation into the actual cause of his death and appropriate departmental action if any negligence is found. He married only two years ago and was the sole earning member of his family. We also urge the government to stand beside his bereaved family during this difficult time.”
The death of Sadik Hossain has once again highlighted the risks routinely faced by emergency responders, particularly specialised rescue divers who work in hazardous river environments to protect the lives of others. His passing has been widely mourned as the loss of a dedicated public servant whose commitment to duty ultimately cost him his own life.
Comments