Two students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) died after drowning in a pond on the university campus on Wednesday (August 12).

The tragic incident occurred around noon at the pond beside Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall.

CUET Director of the Directorate of Students’ Welfare Professor Saiful Islam confirmed the incident.

The deceased were Arnab Chanda, 22, and Shanto Deb, 23, both students of CUET’s 2024 batch. Their homes are reportedly in Sylhet. Arnab was a student of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, while Shanto studied in the TPE Department.

According to eyewitnesses, Arnab and Shanto went to the pond beside their residential hall to take a bath after playing football at noon. At one point, they drowned while swimming in the middle section of the pond.

After receiving the news, their classmates and others launched a rescue operation. Arnab was recovered from the pond after around 20 minutes, while Shanto was brought out approximately 45 minutes later.

The two students were subsequently taken to Evercare Hospital in Chattogram in critical condition. Doctors at the hospital declared them dead.