DHAKA: At least 10 persons, mostly Hindus, were killed and 50 others injured today in a stampede in Bangladesh during a funeral rite of a former Chittagong mayor, according to a media report.
The death toll is expected to rise as several others have been seriously injured in the incident at a convention centre in the port city’s Jamal Khan area, officials said.
“According to information we received, 10 people were killed,” a Home Ministry spokesman said.
The scene of the tragedy was Rima Community Centre, where food was being served mostly for the Hindus as part of the Muslim rite of “Qul-khwani” (prayers for a departed soul) of former mayor and ruling Awami League leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, the spokesman said.
The incident happened at the entrance of the two-storey building.
With the crowd swelling out of control, people jostled for space on the ramp outside the entrance forcing some visitors to fall only to be trampled on by those behind, Bdnews24 reported.
Initial reports from Chittagong suggest nine of the dead were Hindus with the 10th being a Buddhist.
Thousands of people joined the “Qul-khwani” staged simultaneously at 14 convention centres where lunch was served as part of the rite.
Chowdhury, the Chittagong Metropolitan Awami League chief, had served the city corporation for 16 years. He died on Friday at the age of 73. (AGENCIES)
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