Drone Deployed in Ongoing Search for Missing CU Student in Cox’s Bazar
After five days without any trace, the Bangladesh Air Force began deploying drones from Saturday morning, July 9, to aid in the search for Aritra Hasan, a student of Chittagong University (CU) who went missing in the sea at Himchhari beach in Cox’s Bazar.
Confirming the drone deployment, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin told the media, “We are giving utmost importance to the rescue mission. From Saturday, we have been conducting drone surveillance. The district administration continues to take multifaceted measures to locate Aritra Hasan. Our beach workers and lifeguards are patrolling all probable areas using speedboats, especially around Maheshkhali and Sonadia.”
The Deputy Commissioner added that the district administration is coordinating with the Navy and Coast Guard in a joint search operation. Communication is also being maintained with local fishermen and boat operators. The Naval Police have been requested for assistance, and the Upazila Nirbahi Officers of Maheshkhali and Kutubdia are actively involved in the search with local representatives and volunteers. Authorities are maintaining constant contact with the missing student’s family.
Aritra Hasan, a student from the Department of Development Studies at Chittagong University, went missing last Tuesday morning while swimming in the sea with two of his friends near the Himchhari beach area in Cox’s Bazar. While the bodies of his two friends were later recovered, Aritra remains unaccounted for.
According to eyewitness reports, on Tuesday, July 8, at around 6:45 AM, Aritra entered the water along with classmates K.M. Sadman Rahman and Asif Ahmed. The trio was swept away by strong currents. Around two hours later, the body of K.M. Sadman Rahman washed ashore at Himchhari. The next morning at 9:00 AM, Asif Ahmed’s body was found about 15 kilometers north at Nazirar Tek beach under Cox’s Bazar Municipality Ward No. 1.
Imtiaz Ahmed, regional director of Sea Safe Lifeguard, a private rescue organization involved in the search, said, “On Friday, we searched extensively across coastal areas and estuaries but found no trace of the missing student.”
It has been reported that Aritra Hasan is from Bogura district. His father, Sakib Hasan, is a journalist for a national English daily. Since learning of their son’s disappearance, he and his wife have been staying at the Cox’s Bazar beach. Both parents have been visibly distraught and frequently overwhelmed with emotion as the search continues.
