Mymensingh, UNB : At least 25 poor women and children were killed and 50 others injured in a stampede as they crowded for receiving Zakat clothes distributed by local Nurani Jarda Factory near Mymensingh municipality office early Friday. Twenty of the deceased have so far been identified. They are Halima Begum, 45, wife of Haider Ali of Charpara area, Nazma Begum, 50, wife of Jalal Uddin, Fatema Begum, 55, wife of Abdus Salam, Zohora Khatun, 40, wife of Ismail of Akuya Morolpara, Rezia Akhter, 40, wife of Abdul Majid of Kathgola Bazar, Fatema Begum, 42, wife of Robi Hossain, Sufia Begum, 60, wife of Lal Miah of Char Ishwardi area, Khodeja Begum, 50, wife of Abdus Salek of Thanaghat area. The deceased include Siddik, 12, son of Sirajul Islam of Brahmaputra Bastuhara Bihari camp area, Sokhina Begum, 40, wife of Krishna Miah and their daughter Lamiya, 5, Samu Begum, 60, wife of Abdul Barek, Fazila Begum, 75, wife of Mahtab Uddin of Kacharighat area, Hazera Begum, 70, wife of Lalu Miah of Patgodam Bihari camp, Meghna Bosak, 35, wife of Gobinda Bosak of Bosakpatti, Mariam, 50, wife of Moslem of Tarakanda upazila, Jamina Khatun, 65, wife of Sultan, Rina, 60, wife of Gorendra, Suda Rani Sarker, wife of Narayan Chandra Sarker and Najma Akhter, 60. Officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station Quamrul Islam said the incident took place around 5am when a large crowd of people, mostly women, gathered there to collect Zakat clothes being distributed by ‘Nurani Jarda Factory’ owned by Nurani Talukder alias Shamim, leaving 12 women dead on the spot and 61 others injured. The injured were rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared 13 others dead. Four of the injured were admitted to the medical college hospital while the rest were given first aid. All the deceased were trampled underfoot in the crowd while collecting Zakat clothes and died on the spot and at local hospital, the OC said. Meanwhile, police arrested seven people, including Nurani Talukdar, in this connection. A case was also filed against eight people. Sub-inspector Rafiqul Islam of the Kotwali Model Police Station filed the case. Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Mostakim Billah Faruki and police super Moynul Haque of Mymensingh visited the spot. Besides, one of the two committees formed to investigate the incident has been dissolved. Police super dissolved the three-member probe committee formed headed by additional superintendent of police Al Mamun. Now, the five-man probe committee formed by the police headquarters with Additional DIG Dhaka range Shafiqul Islam as its head will look into the incident. The committee visited the spot in the afternoon and talked to the local people. On the other hand, the district administration and the Religions Affairs Ministry each announced to give Tk 10,000 to the families of every deceased. Meanwhile, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan on Friday said legal action will be taken against those responsible for the stampede incident. While talking to UNB over phone, he said the law enforcers arrested several people immediately after the incident. The junior minister also said those who want to distribute Zakat should inform the local administration beforehand. He asked for remaining alert while distributing Zakat to avoid such incident.
