At least 27 poor people, mostly elderly women and children, were killed and over 50 others injured in a stampede in Mymensingh town when they gathered before a factory to collect Zakat clothes.
The death toll may rise since condition of several injured people, undergoing treatment at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, was stated to be critical.
Witnesses say the incident took place due to huge rush at the entrance of Nurani Jorda Factory after sehri around 5am. Twelve women died on the spot while the others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, police say.
No police were deployed in the area centring the religious event, when the rich people distribute saris and other clothes among the poor.
Many Muslims also contribute money as Zakat – one of the five pillars of Islam – to the government’s Zakat Fund. The Islamic Foundation collects Zakat money from across the country with the help of its staff and other government officials. It has a 13-member committee that oversees the collection and expenditure of the Zakat money.
Police filed a case over yesterday’s incident and detained eight persons including the owner of the factory, Nurani Talukder alias Shamim, 65, his son Hedayet Talukder, 30, and factory Manager Iqbal Hossain, 35.
Law enforcers were deployed at the factory to control agitations by the relatives of the deceased, Assistant Superintendent of Police of Kotwali model police Md Abdur Rashid said. “We will take action against those responsible after investigation.”
OC Kamrul Islam said the bodies would be handed over to their relatives after post-mortem examinations.
Deputy Commissioner Mustakim Billa Faruqi and SP Mainul Huq visited the injured at the hospital and assured financial assistance.
The Police Headquarters and the district administration formed two separate committees to look into the matter. Committee members visited the spot in the afternoon.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the loss of lives.
Sixteen of the deceased could be identified. They are Shamima Begum, 60, her daughter Sakhina, 35, and granddaughter Lamiya, 6, Siddique, 11, Anguri Begum, 45, Meghna Bosak, 40, Khodeja Begum, 60, Fazila Begum, 75, Fatema Begum, 60, Nazma Begum, 50, Jahura Begum, 40, Hamida Begum, 45, Sufia Begum, 35, Rezia Begum, 55, Sudharani Sarkar, 55, and Rupali, 35. The Zakat-seekers were residents of camps for homeless and the Bihari people, slums, and the nearby villages.
Witnesses said the factory owner have been distributing Zakat clothes among the deprived people every year for the last three decades. Yesterday, the main gate of the factory, located on Atul Chakrabarty Road of the town, was opened after sehri for the distribution.
Mentioning that the stampede occurred since the people waiting outside wanted to get in at once, the locals said the casualties would have been avoided had the authorities taken any step to ensure discipline.
Talking to reporters, Shamim claimed that they had never witnessed such rush and haphazard situation in the past, for which they did not inform the police beforehand.
The district administration and the Religious Affairs Ministry each announced to give Tk10,000 to the families of every deceased.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan said legal action would be taken against those responsible for the incident. Talking to UNB over the phone, he said those who want to distribute Zakat should inform the local administration beforehand.