Crocodile Drags 8-Year-Old Girl Into Bagerhat Shrine Pond

An 8-year-old girl went missing after being dragged away by a crocodile while bathing in the pond at the Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali shrine in Bagerhat on Monday night.

The incident occurred around 8:00 pm, according to Fakir Tarikul Islam, the chief caretaker of the shrine. "A crocodile hiding in the water suddenly attacked and pulled her under," he confirmed.

The child, identified only by her first name, Fatema, lives at the shrine premises with her mother, who struggles with mental illness. The girl's father is deceased.

Local residents and Fire Service personnel immediately launched a rescue operation, but she remained missing as of 10:30 pm.

Following the incident, Bagerhat Sadar MP Sheikh Monjurul Haque Rahad and Deputy Commissioner Golam Mohammad Baten visited the site to monitor and oversee the ongoing rescue efforts.