Body of child retrieved from pond at Bagerhat shrine after crocodile attack
Photo Collected
The body of a seven-year-old girl was recovered from a pond adjacent to the historic Khan Jahan Ali shrine in Bagerhat early Tuesday morning, hours after she was snatched by a crocodile. The discovery was made at approximately 4:00 a.m. near the eastern bank of the water body, according to local officials.
The victim, identified as Fatima, was the daughter of a woman experiencing homelessness who lived near the shrine premises. Witnesses reported that the child was near the women’s ghat—a stepped landing used for bathing and washing—on Monday night when the crocodile emerged from the water and pulled her into the depths.
The attack occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m., prompting an immediate outcry from onlookers. Local residents launched a frantic search effort using boats before emergency responders, including fire service personnel, police, and local government officials, arrived at the scene to coordinate a more extensive search. Despite these efforts, the child remained missing throughout the night.
Fakir Tarikul Islam, a custodian of the shrine, confirmed that the girl’s body was spotted floating on the eastern side of the pond at dawn. Following the recovery, the body was relocated to the women’s ghat. Local authorities are currently in consultations with district administrators and law enforcement to determine the necessary arrangements for the girl’s burial.
The shrine’s pond, a prominent site in the region, is currently home to a single crocodile. Authorities have yet to release further details regarding the family of the deceased, as officials remain focused on the aftermath of the tragedy.
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