A seven-year-old girl’s body has been recovered from a pond adjacent to the shrine of Khan Jahan Ali (RA) in Bagerhat after she was reportedly dragged underwater by a crocodile. The tragic incident, which occurred on Monday evening, has left the local community in shock and prompted renewed concern over safety at the historic site.
According to eyewitness accounts and local officials, the incident took place around 8:30 pm on the eastern side of the women’s bathing ghat of the shrine pond. The child, identified as Fatema Akter, daughter of a mentally impaired homeless woman living in the shrine area, had gone to bathe when she was suddenly attacked by a crocodile believed to reside in the pond.
Witnesses said the crocodile dragged the girl into the water within moments, triggering panic and screams among those present. Although several people gathered at the scene and attempted to respond, no one was able to immediately intervene in the water. A chaotic rescue effort followed, with locals launching boats into the pond while fire service personnel, police, shrine attendants, and district administration officials were later involved in the search operation.
After several hours of effort, members of the fire service and shrine caretakers recovered the child’s body early Tuesday morning from the area near the women’s ghat. Officials confirmed that the body bore visible injuries consistent with crocodile bites.
Incident Timeline
| Time & Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday, ~8:30 pm | Child enters pond for bathing |
| Immediately after | Crocodile attacks and drags her underwater |
| Night hours | Local residents initiate rescue attempt |
| Later at night | Fire service, police, and administration join operation |
| Tuesday early morning | Body recovered near women’s ghat |
Eyewitnesses described a scene of confusion and helplessness. A shopkeeper near the shrine, Bina, stated that the body was eventually retrieved and that multiple bite marks were visible on the child’s body, indicating a violent attack.
The chief caretaker of the shrine, Fakir Tarikul Islam, confirmed the recovery of the body and said it had been placed at the women’s ghat temporarily. He added that discussions were underway with the district administration and police regarding the next steps, including burial arrangements.
Bagerhat’s Deputy Commissioner, Golam Mohammad Baten, stated that the government would bear all expenses related to the child’s burial and associated arrangements. He also noted that the victim’s mother is a homeless woman with mental health challenges, and no other family details have been established so far.
The incident has raised urgent questions about visitor safety and wildlife management at the historic shrine pond, which is known to contain a crocodile population and attracts numerous visitors daily, including families and pilgrims.
