10 DIE IN STAMPEDE AT MOHIUDDIN’S QUL KHWANI

At least 10 people were killed and 50 others injured in a stampede while guests came to attend a mezban in Chittagong city on the occasion of the qul khwani of late former Chittagong mayor and president of the city Awami League ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.

‘So far we have received 10 bodies here. At least 15 other injured people were taken to different wards of the hospital,’ said assistant sub-inspector Mohammad Alauddin, an on-duty officer at Chittagong Medical College Hospital police camp.

The incident took place around 1:30pm at Rima Convention Centre on Shaheed Saifuddin Khaled Road near Askar Dighir Par where mezban, a grand feast, for people of Hindu Buddhist, Christian and other religious communities was arranged, our correspondent reports.

Among the victims, most of them were Hindus.

Swarup Roy, an organiser of the event and witness, said the venue at Rima Convention Centre was reserved for non-Muslim people.

‘About 2,000 people were waiting at outside the venue when the first batch was taking their food. Once the first batch completed eating everyone else tried to enter the hall. It left the gate collapsed causing the stampede, he said.

On the occasion of qul khwani, family of Mohiuddin arranged mezban on Monday for 80,000 people at 13 venues across the port city, including the incident spot.

Chittagong Metropolitan police commissioner Iqbal Bahar said they will launch an inquiry to see if any negligence was involved.

The administration in Chittagong announced to give Tk one lakh to each of the dead’s family and the family of Mohiuddin Chowdhury would bear the cost of their funeral and the medical expenses of the injured people.

Mohiuddin Chowdhury, 73, passed away Friday last at Max Hospital in Chittagong city.