World Drowning Prevention Day 2026: Drowning: A Cause of Death in BD

Drowning. Image source- Social Media

By Nicholas Biswas

A recently viral CCTV video has shaken many people across Bangladesh. The footage shows a

young child struggling to stay afloat in a pond while another child stands helplessly on the bank,

crying out in panic and desperately throwing objects into the water in a futile attempt to save the

drowning friend. Although there were houses nearby, no one heard the child's desperate cries.

Eventually, a man emerged from one of the nearby houses and rushed to intervene. However, the

video does not reveal whether the child ultimately survived.

This was not an isolated incident; it reflects a daily tragedy across Bangladesh. Countless children

drown without making headlines in the media. For grieving families, it is a lifelong heartbreak.

Drowning remains one of the most neglected causes of child mortality in Bangladesh. While

infectious diseases, malnutrition, and traffic accidents dominate public health agendas, drowning

persists in the shadows. Yet public health experts emphasize; it is among the most preventable

causes of death if communities invest in awareness and safe environments as well.

According to the DGHS Survey, nearly 18,000 people drown nationally every year, with children

and adolescents disproportionately affected. It means about 50 people die every day from

drowning in the country. Most of these fatalities occur in Barishal region because of its

geographical location.

Bangladesh, with its extensive network of rivers, canals, ponds, wetlands, and seasonal

floodwaters, faces particularly acute risks for the children. The Bangladesh Health and Injury

Survey (BHIS) found that an estimated 30,000 children die every year from different types of

injuries. This is noted that drowning alone causes more than half of all injury deaths in the

country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 300,000 people die from drowning

every year worldwide, with children accounting for a significant proportion of these deaths. About

90 percent of global drowning fatalities occur in low and middle-income countries.

Drowning; an Everyday Hazard

National studies show that drowning is a leading cause of death among Bangladeshi children aged

one to four. In rural areas, most incidents occur in water bodies just a few meters from the home.

The danger is rarely distant; it is in the family’s backyard indeed.

Risks escalate during the monsoon season (April - September). Heavy rainfall and waterlogging

transform courtyards, roads, and agricultural fields into temporary hazards. Young children

wandering unattended can suffer irreversible tragedy in just a few minutes.

Experts highlight the hours between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. as the highest-risk window. During

this time, caregivers are occupied with household or agricultural chores, leaving toddlers

unsupervised. A lapse of two or three minutes can change a family’s life forever to sadness.

The most heartbreaking aspect of drowning is its silence. Unlike movie portrayals, drowning

victims - especially children - rarely wave or scream. They slip beneath the surface quietly,

unnoticed even by adults nearby. This led the World Health Organization (WHO) to categorize

drowning as a "silent but preventable public health crisis". That`s why; it should be taken

seriously.

The UN General Assembly designated July 25 as World Drowning Prevention Day in 2021. For

Bangladesh, where climate change is intensifying floods and waterlogging, drowning prevention

must become a national public health priority rather than a seasonal concern.

Why Do These Deaths Continue?

The majority of child drowning deaths in Bangladesh occur during mundane moments. Ponds,

roadside ditches, and rain-filled pits become deadly traps. Children aged one to four are curious

and mobile, yet unable to perceive danger. So, it may unintentionally leave a child vulnerable.

Bangladesh's geography further amplifies this risk. As one of the world's largest riverine countries,

it is interlaced with thousands of water bodies. During the monsoon, increasingly erratic rainfall

and frequent flooding create temporary hazards in the surroundings specially for children.

Prevention is the Best Solution

Evidence shows that simple, targeted interventions save lives. Addressing this crisis requires

coordinated, and multi-sectoral strategies, which include the following steps as well:

1. Supervision: Never leaving young children unattended near water.

2. Barriers: Installing protective fencing around ponds and ditches near homes.

3. Daycare: Establishing community-based childcare for children aged two to five.

4. Education: Integrating swimming and water safety into school curricula.

5. Awareness & CPR: Educating caregivers and training community members in rescue and

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Bangladesh has already proven these strategies work. Pilot initiatives like the Anchal (a

community childcare model) and the SwimSafe program - pioneered by the Centre for Injury

Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB) - have significantly lowered child drowning rates.

The solutions exist; and now they require sustained political commitment and scale in the country.

In May 2023, the 76 th World Health Assembly adopted a Resolution to accelerate further action

through 2029. Through the resolution, WHO committed to establishing a Global Alliance for

drowning prevention with organizations of the UN systems, International Development Partners,

and NGOs as well. Drowning prevention must be elevated to a national strategy spanning health,

education, local government, and disaster management ministries of the country.

From Awareness to Action

World Drowning Prevention Day should prompt concrete policy shifts rather than ceremonial

statements. Bangladesh must expand public investment, media campaigns, and school-based

training. Every child lost to drowning represents a future teacher, doctor, or leader whose

potential is permanently cut short. So, we need tangible actions to halt deaths from drowning.

No child's death from drowning should ever be accepted as inevitable. Through community

action, safety education, and political commitments, Bangladesh can protect its children and end

this silent but deadly crisis. Every child's life is precious; there is no way to overlook it.

(Nicholas Biswas is a development practitioner and recipient of the UNFPA Media Award. He can

be reached at gonomaddyom@gmail.com)