Fire service brings down teenager from banyan tree in Natore after three hours

A 13-year-old boy, Md Alhaz, climbed to the top of a banyan tree beside a madrasa in Naldanga, Natore, and was brought down safely by fire service personnel after an operation lasting about three hours. He was later handed over to his grandparents.

The incident took place at around 10:30 in the morning yesterday, Friday, at a banyan tree beside a madrasa in Bashila village of Naldanga upazila.

Alhaz is the son of Md Rasel, a resident of Paschim Sonapatil in Naldanga municipality. Family members said Alhaz is mentally imbalanced.

Local sources said Alhaz lives with his maternal grandparents. When he could not be found at around 7 in the morning yesterday, his grandparents began searching for him in different places. Later, at around 10:30 in the morning, they learned that Alhaz was sitting at the top of the banyan tree beside a madrasa in the Bashila area.

Local people tried hard but could not bring him down from the tree. The Naldanga Fire Service station was then informed. After receiving the news, a fire service team reached the scene and began the rescue operation.

A net was spread under the tree, and attempts were made to coax the boy down with various inducements. Fire service personnel tried to lure him down by offering bananas and biscuits.

The operation was led by Golam Mostafa, station officer of the Naldanga Fire Service station. He said today, Saturday afternoon, 'Seeing us, the boy kept climbing to higher branches of the banyan tree. We tried to bring him down by telling him we would feed him bananas and biscuits. But when that did not work, one of our men climbed the tree and rescued him. A net was held below for safety. In the end, we were able to rescue him safely.'

Despite spending a long time up the tree, the boy was found to be well. After the rescue, he was handed over to his grandparents.