"Almighty Allah has saved me from drowning in the sea. I swam ashore hanging on to a small log," said the final year architecture student at Khulna University (KU).

Eleven other students -- nine from the KU and two from Dhaka's BUET -- perished after being swept into the Bay of Bengal by strong currents off Katka beach where they went for a swim at around Saturday noon.

The victims and Sajal, the lone survivor, were on an excursion to the Sundarbans as part of a 98-member team, mainly from the KU. The two students from BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology) joined the group as guests.

"We were wading through waist-deep water near the beach. Suddenly, we were engulfed by a high wave and pulled into the sea. As I struggled to stay afloat, I found a log floating in the water and held on to it tightly as I swam toward the shore. It was a miracle," Sajal said.

"Five of my friends who died were the only sons of their parents and Arnaj Rifat Rupa (the lone female victim) was the only daughter," a tearful Sajal said on Sunday noon as he prepared to head home to Dhaka.

A pall of gloom descended on the KU campus as the university went into a three-day mourning for the deceased.

Information minister Tariqul Islam received nine bodies on Sunday at Mongla. High officials of the navy, coastguards, police and forest department, KU vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor and deputy commissioner of Bagerhat were present. The bodies were later flown to the victims' home districts.