Tragedy at Chittagong

TEN people died in a stampede at the Qulkhani of former Chittagong mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury on December 18. Nearly 40 people were also injured in the incident. Both print and electronic media carried the item. Among the dead, there was a university student. The former mayor was a renowned personality and everyone who knew him loved him very much. That is why so many people assembled at the post-funeral observance. The authorities concerned should have taken abundant protection measures for a programme like this. But visibly it was lacking.

In our country when relief materials are distributed people seeking relief fall over each other and in the process some of them get injured or even killed. This happened in Mayor Mohiuddin's Qulkhani. People flocking together died of stampede in heavy rush because of gathering of excess people at the venue. Dying of stampede is nothing new in our country, but this time it was more tragic because all who gathered there loved Mayor Mohiuddin. However, we do not want to see such incidents any more. While taking care of security in such programmes the authorities concerned should pre-empt possibilities of such incidents and be watchful from the beginning. Some effective rules should be followed by the authorities so that such incidents are not repeated.

Sumon Kumar Paul

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Patuakhali Science & Technology University.

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