The body of an eight-year-old girl was recovered early today, hours after a crocodile dragged her into the pond of the Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali Shrine in Bagerhat Sadar upazila.

Divers recovered Fatema's body around 4:45am after an overnight search operation hampered by darkness, said Bagerhat Superintendent of Police Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar. 

"The child's mother, who is reportedly mentally challenged, went down to the water with her daughter to bathe around 8:20pm," Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten told reporters at the scene. 

"It was then that the crocodile, which resides in the pond, attacked and dragged the eight-year-old girl away." 

According to locals and shrine caretakers, the shrine was crowded with visitors following the Eid holidays. 

"Thousands of visitors were here today," said the shrine's Chief Khadem Fakir Tariqul Islam. 

"We have watchmen on duty, but no one could have anticipated this sudden attack." 

He said local youths immediately launched a rescue effort using boats, but by then the crocodile had already dragged the child into deeper waters. 

Fatema's father's identity and home address could not be immediately confirmed. 

Following the incident, a large-scale search operation was launched involving the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the Forest Department, police, and local volunteers. Four boats were deployed to search the pond. 
Bagerhat Sadar Model Police prepared an inquest report and are taking legal steps, officials said. 

Calling the shrine a place frequented by people of all ages, the superintendent of police said authorities are considering temporarily restricting bathing at the pond's two main ghats until adequate safety measures are ensured. 

Bagerhat-2 lawmaker Sheikh Monjurul Hoque Rahad said barriers would be installed to prevent crocodiles from approaching the bathing areas. 

"We previously decided in a law-and-order meeting to install barriers to prevent the crocodiles from approaching the bathing ghats," he said, adding that the process would be expedited so devotees could perform rituals safely.