A Chittagong University (CU) student has died while two others are missing after being swept away by strong waves while bathing in the sea at Himchhari beach in the coastal resort town of Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday morning (July 8).

The deceased has been identified as KM Sadman Rahman Sabab, a student of the Development Studies Department at Chittagong University (CU).

His body was recovered shortly after the incident, according to university and local sources.

Two of his classmates, Asif Ahmed and Aritra Hasan, remain missing as of Tuesday afternoon. All three were enrolled in the 2023–24 academic session.

According to witnesses, the group had travelled to Cox’s Bazar on Monday evening and spent the night in the Himchhari area.

Early Tuesday morning, several of them entered the water for a swim when a large wave unexpectedly struck, pulling the three students out to sea.

"The water seemed calm at first, but suddenly a huge wave came and overturned everything," a fellow student who was at the scene told local media. "We screamed for help, and local fishermen came quickly. They managed to bring back one body, but the others are still missing."

Syed Kamal Chowdhury, Assistant Proctor of CU and a faculty member of the Development Studies Department, confirmed that the students had travelled independently.

"The body of one student has been recovered. A search operation is ongoing for the other two, with support from the local administration and fishermen," he said.

The families of the missing students have been informed, and local authorities are continuing the rescue operation.