MEHERPUR, Oct 21, 2025 (BSS) - The bodies of two students who went missing while bathing near the Ratanpur-Rashikpur sluice gate in Mujibnagar upazila of the district were recovered from the Bhairab River six hours later on Monday night.

One body was recovered around 8:00pm and the other at about 8:30pm by a diving team of the Khulna Fire Service, who joined the local rescue operation, officials said.

The deceased were identified as Kaushik Ahmed (18), son of Mahir Hossain of Amdah village, and Tanvir Hossain Niloy (18), son of Hannan Sheikh of Tengramari village, both under Meherpur Sadar upazila.

Tanvir was a student of class XI at Meherpur Government College, while Kaushik studied at a local madrasa.

Locals said the two, along with several friends, went to bathe at the Rashikpur sluice gate around 2:00pm on Monday. As the river current intensified, both Tanvir and Kaushik were swept away. Their friends and nearby residents attempted to rescue them but failed.

Upon receiving information, police from Mujibnagar Police Station and members of the Fire Service rushed to the spot and began a rescue operation. When they could not locate the boys after an extended search, a special diving team from Khulna was called in.

The Khulna diving team reached the scene around 7:00pm and began searching the river. After about an hour and a half, they recovered the bodies.

Station Officer of Mujibnagar Fire Service Selim Reza said strong river currents hampered the initial rescue efforts, prompting them to seek assistance from the Khulna diving team, who successfully retrieved the bodies.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mujibnagar Police Station Mizanur Rahman said the bodies were handed over to their families later that night.