Crocodile drags girl into shrine pond, body found

The body of an eight-year-old girl was recovered early Tuesday, hours after she was dragged into the pond of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali Shrine in Bagerhat Sadar upazila by a crocodile.

Divers recovered the body of Fatema around 4:45am after an overnight search operation, said Bagerhat Superintendent of Police Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar.

The incident occurred around 8:20pm on Monday when the child went into the pond with her mother to bathe, Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten told reporters at the scene.

“At that time, a crocodile living in the pond attacked the child and dragged her into the water,” the deputy commissioner said.

According to locals and shrine caretakers, the shrine area was crowded with visitors following the Eid holidays. Shrine Chief Khadem Fakir Tariqul Islam said thousands of people had visited the site on the day of the incident.

“We have watchmen on duty, but no one could have anticipated such a sudden attack,” he said.
Local youths immediately tried to rescue the child using boats, but the crocodile had already dragged her into deeper water, he added.

Following the incident, a search operation was launched with the participation of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the Forest Department, police and local volunteers. Four boats were used in the search.
Police said an inquest report was prepared by Bagerhat Sadar Model Police Station, and necessary legal steps are being taken.

The identity and home address of Fatema’s father could not be confirmed immediately.
Authorities said they are considering temporarily restricting bathing at the pond’s two main ghats until proper safety measures are put in place.

Bagerhat-2 lawmaker Sheikh Monjurul Hoque Rahad said barriers would be installed to prevent crocodiles from approaching the bathing areas.

“We had earlier decided in a law-and-order meeting to install barriers near the bathing ghats. The process will now be expedited so devotees can perform rituals safely,” he said.