Picnic Tragedy
11 students' bodies recovered from Bay
Quazi Amanullah, Khulna
Navy rescue divers recovered the bodies of nine architecture students of Khulna University (KU) and two mechanical engineering students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) who drowned in the Bay of Bengal Saturday afternoon, police said.The victims had reportedly gone for a swim in the treacherous waters off Katka beach on the sidelines of an excursion to the Sundarbans. They were identified as Arnaj Rifat, Mohammad Kausar Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, Kazi Abdul Muyeed Mohammad Walid, Maksumul Aziz Mostaji, Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, Mohammad Munadil Raihan bin Mahbub Shuvo, Abdullah-el-Baki and Mohammad Touhidul Enam of the KU, and Samiul and Shakil of the BUET in Dhaka. The 11 were part of a 98-member team, mainly from the KU, on an excursion to the Sundarbans aboard a launch MV Shuvoraj. Bodies of Arnaj Rifat, the lone female victim, and Mohammad Kausar Ahmed Khan were flown to Dhaka by an airforce helicopter yesterday noon after their namaz-e-janaza on the KU campus. The other bodies were brought to Mongla from Katka at 5:30pm yesterday to be flown to their respective home districts, said the KU vice-chancellor. Eight of the victims are from Dhaka city and one each from Dinajpur, Jessore and Khulna. Information Minister Tariqul Islam was at Mongla to receive dead bodies. Local residents said the place where the students went swimming was one of the most treacherous strips along the beach with strong tides and quicksand. KU authorities have announced a three-day mourning for the deceased. All classes and examinations have been suspended till March 16. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia also expressed her profound shock at the tragic deaths and sympathy for the victims' families.
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