Mystery shrouds the death of a college boy in Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh on Tuesday.

The deceased, Al Rafiu Rafi, 22, son of Mominul Haque Prodhan of Mistripara in the upazila, was a first-year honours student at Sayedpur Degree College in Nilphamari.

On suspicion, police detained deceased's two friends Ibrahim Bepari, 22, son of Kamal Bepari of Patwarypara, and Sharif Khan, 22, son of Shahabuddin Khan of Munshipara, the same evening, Officer-in-Charge of Debiganj Police Station Md Aminul Islam said.

Quoting deceased's family members, police said Rafi and his friends Ibrahim and Sharif went for a boat ride in the Karatoa river near Maynamoti Char around 4:00pm on Tuesday.

While returning home, Rafi stepped down to the river bank to bring the boat back to the shore as the boatman was nowhere near at that moment.  

After stepping a couple of yards Rafi suddenly slipped into the river and drowned, police said, adding, his two friends could not save him as they didn't know how to swim.

Hearing screams, a local fisherman rescued Rafi before his two friends took him to Debiganj Upazila Health Complex where the doctors declared him dead.

Upazila Health Officer Dr Hasinur Rahman said no injury mark was found on the deceased's body.