Pabna, Sept 1 (V7N) – Two children drowned in a roadside pond in Khagrabaria village under Faridpur upazila of Pabna on Sunday afternoon while attempting to cross a makeshift bamboo bridge.
 
The deceased have been identified as Jiarul, 3, son of Rojob Mondol, and Jamiron, 2, daughter of Maksudul Islam. Both children were from the same village and were paternal cousins.
 
According to local accounts, the children were playing near a small pond that runs through the village. At some point around midday, they tried to cross a bamboo bridge (locally known as a "sako") built over the pond. They reportedly slipped and fell into the water. Neither child knew how to swim.
 
After a frantic search by relatives and villagers, their bodies were found floating in the pond around 2:30 PM. Locals recovered the bodies and brought them ashore, but both children had already died.
 
Jamin Uddin, a local union parishad member from Ward 9 of Faridpur Sadar Union, confirmed the incident.
 
Raju Ahmed Sarkar, a resident and businessman from the village, described the pond as narrow but deep, and frequently used as a passage via the makeshift bridge. He said incidents like this highlight the need for safer infrastructure in rural communities.
 
Faridpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge, (OC) Hasnat Zaman said the tragedy occurred largely due to lack of supervision and awareness. “These are very young children. They couldn't swim. This is a painful incident. We urge all families to remain vigilant, especially those with small children,” he added.
 
The incident has cast a pall of grief over the entire village, as community members mourn the untimely loss of the two children.
 
END/MSR/SMA/