An estimated 30,000 people including children die of unnatural reasons every year in Bangladesh, of which 17,000 people aged between one and 18 die by drowning, said a survey of the Bangladesh Health and Injury (BHI).
The BHI survey said the death rate of children in the country from various diseases has declined to a satisfactory level during the last two years, while drowning of children has increased to 57 per cent in 2003 from 9.0 per cent in 1983, another study shows, reports BSS.
Several studies carried out by the ICDDR'B and the BHI revealed that lack of awareness was largely responsible for drowning.
It said that during floods, a good number of mothers and family members keep them busy between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm for household management instead of keeping their eyes on their kids.
According to the UNICEF, during the rainy season between June and August last year as many as 946 incidents of death occurred in the country, of which 816 death incidents took place as a result of drowning mostly children aged below five years.
Talking to the news agency, UNICEF Project Officer Dr Sumona Safinaz said many drownings occurred during the flooding in the fur-flung areas and those incidents do not get published due to bad communication facilities.
The rate of drowning of children between one and 17 years of age is more than the death of pneumonia or diarrhoea, according to Children and Mother Affairs Institute of the Health Ministry.
Another survey carried out by the BHI observed that drowning of children happens usually in ponds, ditches, lakes even in dry season.
On the other hand, it said, during the rainy season the water bodies get filled due to incessant rain and onrush of hilly waters that causes children to drown.
Dr Sumona said the drowning incident occur when children go to nearby ponds or lakes in absence of their parents or relatives.
Moreover, she said, the mothers often keep their children with their relatives those are not capable to rescue if any of the children go to the water-body.
She said mothers of joint families spend enough time to do huge variety of jobs keeping their kids in charge of others.
Not only this, Dr Sumona said, "Many children used to go far away beyond the knowledge of their parents and after a long time they search them, but unfortunately find their children floating in nearby ponds or other water-bodies.
