At least six children drowned in Chattogram and Kishoreganj districts today.

In Chattogram, three children drowned in a pond in Rangunia this evening.

The victims are Sumaiya Akter, 5, daughter of Md Raju; Habiba Akter, 6, daughter of Md Kalu -- both from Parua union; and Jannat Akter, 5, daughter of Md Naser, who had come to visit a relative's house in the area.

Rangunia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sifatul Majdar said the girls had gone to the pond while playing near their homes. When they did not return, their families began searching for them frantically and later found their bodies floating in the water.

The bodies were taken to a local doctor, who confirmed their deaths. They will be handed over to their families without an autopsy.

In Kishoreganj, three children of the same family drowned in Dhaleshwari river this evening.

The deceased are Mahin Mia, 6, son of Masuk Mia of Alinagar Paschimpara; Nazmul Hasan, 5, son of Abdus Sattar; and Md Mishkat, 4, son of Abul Kalam. They were cousins, said police.

The incident occurred in the Dhaleshwari river in Alinagar Paschimpara of Deoghar union of the upazila.

According to locals and family sources, the three children were playing near their house in the afternoon. At one stage, they went to the nearby river and fell into it.

After a while, the family and locals started searching for the children. They went down to the riverside and launched a rescue operation.

Mahin and Mishkat were rescued and taken to Austagram Upazila Health Complex, where doctor on duty declared them dead.

Later, receiving the news, members of Austagram Fire Service and Civil Defence reached the spot and rescued Nazmul Hasan.

He was taken to the hospital, where the doctor declared him dead.

Aminul Haque, medical officer of Austagram Upazila Health Complex, confirmed the deaths and said all three children were brought to the hospital dead.

[Our correspondents from Chattogram and Kishoreganj contributed to this report.]