Jewel Chowdhury, Habiganj District Representative //

In Lakhai upazila of Habiganj district, child drowning death has turned into a silent epidemic. In the last 25 days, 7 children tragically lost their lives due to drowning in different villages of the upazila. On September 22, a child named Mahin Akhter (one and a half years old) drowned in the water in Kamrapur village of the upazila.
On September 20, his two sisters drowned in Noagaon village of Bamoi union of Lakhai upazila. Sohag Mia’s daughters Aishi Akhtar Sushi (5) and Varsha Akhtar (4) drowned in the canal near the house in the afternoon that day without the family members being aware of it. Later they were rescued floating in the water and taken to Lakhai Upazila Health Complex where the doctor on duty declared them dead.

On September 4, two speech-impaired sisters tragically died after drowning in the reservoir near Bangalpara Hati in Swajangram.

It is known that in the afternoon of that day Sadhu Mia’s two daughters Tahmina (17) and Sonia (15) went to take a bath in the nearby reservoir. At one point, both of them drowned in the water and disappeared. Later the locals recovered the dead bodies of both.
Earlier on August 31, two primary school students named Pakhi Akhtar (8) and Maisha Akhtar (6) drowned in the water. This incident took place in East Boubazar area of ​​Bamoi village of the upazila at noon that day. Pakhi and Maisha are the daughters of Ramiz Mia of Bamoi village. It is known that two sisters went to bathe in the pond next to the house at noon. At one point, both of them drowned in the water. Later the relatives recovered the body.
District Bapa President Prof. Ikramul Wadud expressed concern over the death of children due to drowning and stressed on the parents to be more aware in this regard.