Two eight-year-old children, Khadija and Maria, attended a wedding ceremony with the family. The boat sank while returning on April 29 in Tentulia River of Dasmina Upazila of Patuakhali. Four people, including two children, went missing. Two days later, the bodies of both of them were found floating in the Bandarchar area, about 15 kilometres away in the south.
A 14-year-old teenager named Ratul Islam Fahim drowned near his house in Comilla's Manoharganj on April 30. Farooq Mia, the father of the deceased, said his child was mentally unstable. The incident happened just a week after Eid-ul-Fitr.
According to the National Alliance for Drowning Prevention (NADP), child drowning deaths increase during festivals, especially Eid. At least 30 children under the age of five fall into the water daily during these times.
Explaining the reason, the organization says that mainly family elders, including parents, are busy during the festival. Due to their carelessness, children wander off into unfamiliar places and meet with accidents.
NADP Convener Sadrul Hasan Majumdar said many people visit their village homes during the festival. It can be seen that their children are not used to village life. They do not know how to swim. As a result, they drown.
During Eid-ul-Azha in 2022, eight children drowned in Chittagong, Chapainawabganj, Sherpur, Brahmanbaria, and Sylhet.
About 68% of drowning deaths occur between 9am and 1pm, according to NADP data.
Most of these drownings occur in water bodies close to home. It was found that parents, especially mothers, were busy with other household chores when the child drowned.
Former professor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dr Abdul Jalil Chowdhury, said: "Public awareness should be increased about drowning. Otherwise, it cannot be reduced. The elders of the house should keep an eye on the children even during the festival."
According to UNICEF, more than 14,000 children drown in Bangladesh every year. Although the matter is not discussed much, it is one of the biggest threats to public health.
A large part of Bangladesh's land is submerged every year due to floods during the monsoon season. The absence of swimming skills poses a significant threat, underscoring the potential dangers one faces when unable to swim. Children who live near water are at greater risk of drowning.
A report released this year said 1,130 people died in 886 boat accidents in 2022. 81% of these children are under nine years of age. Of which 61% were under four years of age.
In 2020 and 2021, the drowning death rate for children under nine was 65% and 73%, respectively. The number of deaths in these two years was 807 and 1,347, respectively.
On the other hand, 94% of drowning deaths in 2022 were under the age of 18. Some 556 of them were under four years of age, 363 were five to nine years old, 102 were 10-14 years old, 43 were 15–18 years old, and 66 were over 18 years of age.
This distressing surge in child drownings during festive occasions necessitates immediate action and heightened awareness. As families gather to partake in joyous celebrations, the paramount importance of safeguarding children's lives and well-being cannot be overstated.
By promoting widespread public education, proactive supervision, and the acquisition of essential swimming skills, a collective effort can be made to forge a future where no child succumbs to the perils of treacherous waters.