KUSHTIA, May 20, 2026 (BSS) - Two teenage friends tragically drowned in the Gorai River in Sadar upazila on Wednesday afternoon after completing their 
SSC examinations.

The deceased were identified as Apurba Ifti Taif, 18, son of Saiful Islam, and Sakibul Islam, 19, son of Nurul Islam. Both were SSC candidates this 
year.

Taif and Sakibul had appeared in the SSC examinations from the science group of Old Kushtia High School and Kushtia Zilla School respectively. Wednesday 
marked the final day of their examinations.

After finishing the exam, the two friends went to bathe in the Gorai River near the Haripur Bridge area under Hatsh Haripur union. During the bath, 
Sakibul reportedly began drowning in the river. Taif, who knew how to swim, attempted to rescue his friend but also drowned in the river.

Locals, later, rescued the two and rushed them to Kushtia General Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared them dead.

Iqbal Hasan, resident medical officer (RMO) of the hospital, said the two students were brought to the hospital dead after 4:30 pm.

Assistant Director of Kushtia Fire Service and Civil Defense Md. Wadud Hossain said locals had already rescued the victims and sent them to the 
hospital before firefighters arrived at the scene.