Police said Tanvir Ahmed Shuvo and Shovon Roy, first-year students of the college, drowned while they were trying to learn swimming in the river, which flows through the town, at noon.

A woman who saw them sinking informed local people. They tried but failed to find the bodies. Divers were called in from Rajshahi and they recovered the bodies at about 9:00pm.

Shuvo, the only son of Abdur Razzak of Malatinagar in the town, and Shovon, son of Mangal Roy of Chelopara, passed SSC examination this year with GPA 5 (A+) and GPA 4.88 (A).

A pall of gloom descended on the town over the tragic death of the two bright students.