DHAKA, April 19, 2026 (BSS) - Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death among children, yet it is largely preventable. One of the most effective ways to reduce this risk is to teach children how to swim. Swimming is not just a recreational activity—it is a vital life skill that can save lives.

When children learn to swim, they gain essential survival abilities such as floating and moving toward safety. These skills can help them stay afloat long enough to be rescued or to reach a safe place on their own. Swimming lessons teach children how to remain calm in water.

Samiul, the youngest son of a farmer in Shantipur village in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali, was born without a leg. His physical challenges appears to have been a source of constant concern for his parents in a community grappling with a high number of drowning incidents. 

His parents were determined that they will teach their son Samiul, aged 10, the technics how to swim, but they didn’t know how Samiul could learn swimming given his condition or who could teach him. Then they started finding ways and finally discovered a swimming centre in Shantipur, known for its inclusive approach to teaching children of all abilities. Encouraged, Samiul's parents enrolled him in the programme.

With dedication, Samiul learned the rules and techniques of swimming and ultimately ?graduated from the centre. Samiul swam beautifully, inspiring many children in the area.

Though Samiul learnt the techniques of swimming by overcoming barriers, many children face the untimely death in drowning due to lack of swimming skill in the country. 

According to the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), about 19000 people, 14,500 of them  children under 18, die due to drowning every year in the country. But these are preventable deaths. Child drowning is the highest in monsoon (April-September) in ?the country.
 
A report of Bangladesh Health Injury Survey (BHIS) identified drowning of children (aged 1-17) as one of the main causes of child mortality. 

Such dire circumstances have prompted Bangladesh and Ireland, along with 79 United Nations member states, to advocate for increased global awareness, culminating in the declaration of July 25th as "World Drowning Prevention Day”.

On the 29th May, 2023 the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted its first ever resolution on drowning prevention in Geneva, Switzerland. Under Agenda Item 16.3 “Social Determinants of Health”, the Assembly discussed and adopted WHA resolution ‘Accelerating Action on Global Drowning Prevention’ proposed by the Governments of Bangladesh and Ireland, and co-sponsored by at least 72 Member States. 

The RNLI, through its international team and as a non-state actor in official relations with WHO has been involved in the process, providing technical expertise and outreach support to the Missions of Ireland and Bangladesh, at their request. It is a must to reduce child death caused by drowning if we want to achieve the Sustainable ?Development Goals (SDGs) No. 3. 

The Bangladesh government has recognized child drowning as a leading cause of child death and safety problems, and taken steps to address the issue.?
Moreover, the government has initiated the development of national strategy to reduce drowning deaths, and in 2022 has approved a three-year long project named ‘Integrated Community Based Center for Child Care, Protection and Swim-Safe Facilities in 16 districts’.

Being implemented by Bangladesh Shishu Academy under the supervision of the Women and Children Affairs Ministry, the project is expected to help reduce the accident.    

According to experts, there are effective measures to prevent drowning. These include keeping institutional care for children under 5, teaching survival swimming to 6-10 years old children and first response training to community volunteers.

As part of the preventive measures, it is needed to train children and adolescents on swimming skills and techniques for saving lives, and to aware the community people on drowning prevention and social norms to protect the community specially children. It is also needed to train local people on first aid, so that they can give it to the victims quickly after rescuing them.

Dr. Aminur Rahman, deputy executive director of CIPRB, observed that awareness among people can help prevent the drowning of children. It is possible to get good results by local initiatives even with less cost, he said.

Let us come together and pledge our unwavering commitment towards the safety, health, and overall well-being of children.