Five children have drowned in separate incidents over four days in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram, causing widespread grief and alarm among residents. The latest death occurred on Monday afternoon in Baraidala Union, where six-year-old Humayra fell into a pond near her home. Earlier, four other children aged between three and nine died in similar accidents in different areas of the upazila.

Local residents said most rural homes are surrounded by open ponds and water bodies without protective fencing, posing serious risks to children. Health officials noted that drowning is one of the leading causes of death among Bangladeshi children aged one to ten, particularly in rural areas where ponds and ditches are common near homes. Sitakunda Health Officer Dr. Altaf Hossain described the deaths as preventable and called for awareness campaigns and coordinated efforts among local departments.

Public health experts recommended institutional measures such as swimming lessons in primary schools, community daycare centers, and local water safety programs. Residents urged authorities to treat the issue as a public safety emergency to prevent further tragedies.