Nine women die in stampede

CHATTOGRAM, May 14: At least nine women were killed in a stampede while collecting iftar items at a madrasha at Satkania upazila of the district today.

The deaths occurred as some 20,000 people gathered at the madrasa field at Nalua union's Ghatiadanda village this afternoon, said the Satkania police.

The police said that the owners of Kabir Steel Re-rolling Mills (KSRM) arranged distribution of the iftar foodstuffs among the poor villagers on Monday. They arranged identical programmes every year before Ramadan.

The police said nearly 20, 000 people, mostly women from Nalua and other neighbouring villages, came to the field to receive the iftar materials.

Union Parishad chairperson of Nalua Mrs Taslima Akhtar said they have got the information that at least nine women have been killed in heatstroke and stampede during jostling for the relief in the big crowd while some others fell ill.

Additional Police Super (south) of Chattogram Md Emran Bhuiyan confirmed death of eight women. He said the Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Md Illyas Hossain has formed a five member committee to probe the incident with Additional District Magistrate Masudul Kabir as its head. The committee has been directed to submit its report within seven working days.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the KSRM Meherul Karim said Managing Director of the KSRM Mohammed Shahjahan was present at the distribution of iftar items that included packets of chicken, semai, onion, sugar etc for every family.

The police and security staffs of the KSRM Group of Industries were engaged in volunteering the event for the distribution.

He said the KSRM authority will pay Tk 300,000 for each of the deceased family in compensation and will also arrange jobs for the able members of the families in his company in near future.

The KSRM management will also pay the cost of medical treatment for those who fell ill, he said.

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