Victim’s brother files case: Probe bodies formed

FE Team | Published: December 19, 2017 23:42:51

CHITTAGONG, Dec 19 (Agencies): A case has been filed in connection with the death of 10 people in a stampede during the qulkhwani of late former Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
Arun Das, brother of deceased Jhantu Das, filed the unnatural death case with Chawkbazar Police Station on Monday night, said Nurul Huda, officer-in-charge of the police station.
Besides, the administration suspended the activities of the Rima Convention Centre in the city for investigation.
At least 10 people were killed and 50 others injured in the stampede during the qulkhwani of Mohiuddin Chowdhury at the convention centre.
Meanwhile, the condition of four of the injured was stated to be critical. They were taken to the Intensive Care Unit of CMCH.
Two probe bodies - one by the district administration and the other by the Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner - were formed to look into the incident.
Another report adds, nine victims of a stampede during funeral rites for Mohiuddin Chowdhury have been cremated without post-mortem examinations.
Chittagong-32 Andarkilla Ward Councillor Jaharlal Hazri, who was in charge of the bodies, said the cremations were performed without autopsies. The administration gave their permission for the cremations.
Three of the cremations were conducted between late Monday night and Tuesday afternoon at the city's Baluardighi temple, he told bdnews24.com.
The remaining six bodies were sent to their homes in Bashkhali, Kattuli, Sitakunda, Anowara, Cox's Bazar's Chokria and Rangamati and then cremated.
Another body was sent home to Rangpur for the funeral, said Jaharlal Hazari.
Awami League leaders, including Mohiuddin's sons AL Organising Secretary Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel and Borhanul Hasan Chowdhury Salehin, attended the cremations at Baluadighi temple.
Meanwhile, Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel has said he hopes investigations will identify the reasons how 10 people were killed in his father ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury's Qulkhwani in the city.
"The CCTV camera footage will give a clear picture of what exactly happened immediately before the stampede, whether there was any negligence," Nowfel said Monday night.
The Chittagong district administration has formed a five-strong committee to investigate the incident.
An additional district magistrate is heading the investigation team.
Nowfel's family arranged Qulkhwani or post-funeral religious rite in 13 community centres in the city for the former mayor and Chittagong Awami League president who died on Friday.
Rima Community Centre, where the stampede occurred, was designated to cater for those who do not eat beef.
"We arranged similar programmes at our house and community centres including Rima Community Centre, but nothing like that happened elsewhere" said Nowfel, who is also a central organising secretary of the ruling Awami League.
"It should be looked into if anyone from among the waiting crowd opened the lock of the gate of the community centre by mistake," he pointed out. Police have collected the video footage of the community centre.