The body of an eight-year-old girl was recovered early Tuesday after she was dragged into a pond by a crocodile at the Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali Shrine in Bagerhat Sadar upazila.
The victim, identified as Fatema, was attacked around 8:20pm while bathing in the shrine pond with her mother. According to local authorities, the crocodile suddenly emerged and pulled the child underwater.
An overnight search operation involving divers, the Fire Service, police, the Forest Department and local volunteers was launched immediately after the incident. Despite challenges caused by darkness, divers recovered the girl’s body at around 4:45am.
Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten said Fatema’s mother, who is reportedly mentally challenged, had entered the pond with her daughter when the attack occurred. Local residents and shrine caretakers said the area was crowded with visitors following the Eid holidays.
Shrine Chief Khadem Fakir Tariqul Islam said local youths attempted to rescue the child using boats, but the crocodile had already disappeared into deeper waters. He added that although security personnel were on duty, the sudden attack was unexpected.
Following the tragedy, authorities have begun legal procedures and are considering temporarily restricting bathing at the shrine’s main ghats until adequate safety measures are put in place.
Bagerhat-2 lawmaker Sheikh Monjurul Hoque Rahad said barriers would be installed around the bathing areas to prevent crocodiles from approaching visitors. He noted that plans for such safety measures had already been discussed and would now be implemented on an urgent basis.