Infant's body recovered 14hrs

Tragedy in Chattogram: Baby’s Body Recovered After Rickshaw Falls into Open Drain

In a tragic incident that has once again highlighted the perils of Chattogram’s fragile drainage infrastructure, the body of a six-month-old baby was recovered from the Chaktai canal early this morning. The recovery took place almost 14 hours after the infant went missing when the battery-run rickshaw carrying the child and their mother fell into an open roadside drain, swollen by rainwater in the Kapasgola area of the port city.

The unfortunate event occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday night, near the Nawab Hotel in Kapasgola, a busy area often congested with traffic and bordered by open drainage systems. According to officials from the Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence, the rickshaw lost control and plunged into the drain that had turned into a fast-flowing stream due to heavy rainfall earlier in the day. The drain, typically open and unprotected, became a deadly current under the pressure of accumulated rainwater. The force of the water was so strong that it swept away the infant, separating the baby from the mother's grasp in seconds. Despite being shaken and injured, the mother was able to survive the fall and emerge with the assistance of locals. Md Abdullah, Assistant Director of the Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed that the baby’s body was discovered by local residents around 10:10 a.m. on Friday. The body had fallen into the Chaktai canal, a drain system-connected waterway. Upon discovering the body, locals immediately pulled it out of the canal and notified the fire service. Later, the fire service handed the body over to the local police station.

Anwar Hossain, also an Assistant Director at the Chattogram Fire Service, shared that search operations had begun immediately after the incident was reported. “Firefighters from the Chandanpura unit rushed to the scene shortly after the accident. They began searching through the fast-moving water, but the strong current made the rescue efforts extremely challenging,” Hossain said. “We continued the operation throughout the night despite the adverse conditions, hoping we might find the child alive.”

Top city officials were drawn to the heartbreaking scene. Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain arrived at the site around 9:00 p.m. on Thursday to oversee the rescue efforts personally. He spoke with emergency responders, residents, and the child’s family. In his condolences, Mayor Hossain emphasized the significance of addressing the city's persistent drainage issues. For years, residents of Chattogram have voiced deep concern about the unsafe condition of the city’s drains and canals. Many of these are left uncovered or poorly maintained, despite the rapid urban development in the area. Locals refer to these unprotected drainage systems as “death traps,” particularly during the monsoon season when water levels rise rapidly and turn gentle channels into dangerous torrents.

“It’s not the first time we’ve lost someone like this,” said one resident of Kapasgola. “The drains are wide open, and there are no retaining walls or safety measures. We worry about something similar every time it rains. Experts and urban planners have also criticized the lack of proper infrastructure in Chattogram, pointing out that a growing population and increased construction have overwhelmed the city's outdated drainage system. Without modern retention structures or protective slabs to cover drains, these open systems pose significant risks to pedestrians, vehicles, and especially children.

Calls for action have grown louder in the wake of this latest tragedy. Citizens are urging the Chattogram City Corporation