Missing Tourist's Body Recovered 21 Hours After Cox's Bazar Beach Incident

The body of a 22-year-old tourist who went missing while swimming at Inani Beach in Cox's Bazar has been recovered nearly 21 hours after he disappeared, authorities said.

The victim, Mohammad Sayem, was from Hathazari in Chattogram and the son of Mohammad Iqbal. Rescue workers recovered Sayem's body around 9:30 a.m. Sunday from the Rejukhal area in Ukhiya. The recovery operation involved beach personnel, the Fire Service, Tourist Police, and the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

According to Sayem's friend, Md. Arman, the two traveled from Bandarban to Cox's Bazar on Saturday morning before riding along the Marine Drive road toward Teknaf. At around 12:30 p.m., they entered the water near the jetty on the southern side of Inani Beach.

Sayem was swept away by strong sea currents and disappeared. Local residents, fishermen, beach workers, and later a Fire Service rescue team searched the area but were unable to locate him on Saturday. Belal Uddin, the supervisor of the Cox's Bazar District Administration's beach staff, said rescuers searched throughout the night alongside the victim's father. On Sunday morning, they received reports of a body floating in the Rejukhal area.

"The victim's father identified the body at the scene," Belal said. The body was later sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital for an autopsy.

The incident comes less than a month after another tourist, Md. Abir, 18, from Old Dhaka, went missing while swimming at Cox's Bazar's Sugandha (Seagull) Beach on May 31, highlighting ongoing safety concerns along Bangladesh's popular coastline.