A 19-year-old college student, Sabbir Sheikh, died after falling into a canal while trying to flee upon seeing patrolling district detective police in Netrokona. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon near Harikhali canal in Sadar upazila. Sabbir, son of businessman Nadim Sheikh from the town’s Mechuabazar area, was a twelfth-grade student at Abu Abbas Degree College.

Police said a nine-member DB team, led by Sub-Inspector Rajon Mia of DB West, was travelling by motorcycle on an anti-drug operation. As the team reached Harikhali canal near Amtala Road, Sabbir and several other youths reportedly tried to run away after seeing police from a distance. They jumped into the canal; others swam ashore, but Sabbir sank underwater.

Locals recovered him and DB officers took him to Netrokona 250-bed District Hospital, where a doctor declared him dead. Hospital officials said he was brought in around 4:30 pm. His sister, Purnima Akter, said he could not swim and had no cases against him or involvement in criminal activities. The family demanded an impartial investigation, while police said all aspects of the death are being examined.