The bodies of two youths were recovered from the Padma River at Jhautala area in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi early Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Kawsar Ali, 18; and Mosharraf Hossain Musha, 19. Both were residents of Charkanapara village of Char Ashariadaha union of the upazila.
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Ashraful Haque Bhola, chairman of the Char Ashariadaha union, said the two youths went missing on December 19 while fishing in the river. On Saturday morning, some fishermen found their bodies floating in the river close to the Indian border.
"They may have drowned in the river and died," he said.
Abdul Matin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Godagari Model Police Station, said they received information that on December 19, seven to eight youths were illegally crossing the border to go to India. Five were able to return when the Indian BSF chased them. The other two went missing; it was assumed that the BSF had detained them.
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However, somehow they fell into the river and died, he said.
The bodies were sent to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) morgue for autopsy, said the OC.