Shanto Bonik . File photo

SYLHET, May 16, 2026 (BSS) - Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Student drowned while he was visiting the Bichnakandi tourist spot in Gowainghat upazila of the Sylhet district last night.

Fire service personnel recovered his body at around 9:30 PM Friday, said SUST Proctor Professor Md. Mokhlesur Rahman.

The deceased, Shanto Bonik, was a student of the Petroleum and Mining Engineering (PME) department for the 2023-24 academic session.

According to his department friends, Shanto went missing after submerging in the water at around 5:00 PM on Friday. 

Police reported that a group of 10 to 11 students had gone to visit the Bichnakandi on Friday afternoon and went down to swim in the clear water. At that time, sudden upstream flash floods triggered by rain caused the water current to increase drastically. At one point, Shanto Bonik was washed away and went missing due to the strong flow.

Hearing his friends' screams, locals rushed to the spot and began searching for him with boats. Later, locals informed the Tourist Police and Gowainghat Police Station, who then arrived at the scene and launched a rescue operation.

The Proctor stated that after Shanto Bonik's body was brought to the university, the university administration made arrangements today, Saturday, to send his body to his village Thakurgaon home under their own management.