Rima Convention Centre undergoes repair

CHITTAGONG, Dec 26: The steep slope at the entrance to the Rima Convention Centre, where a stampede at the qulkhwani of former Chittagong mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury left 10 people killed and 25 others injured, has been leveled by the management of the hall today.

Over a dozen of workers filled the place up by at least two feet at the level of the adjoining SS Khaled Road as per design of the engineers, said manager of the hall Abdul Mannan.

It will take 2/3 more days to complete the work fully, he added.

As many as 10 persons were killed and 25 others injured as several thousand invited people waiting to enter the hall for a mass feast (Mezban) rushed into in a stampede as the gatemen suddenly opened the gate on to a steep parking space in front of the hall.

Alhaj Md Shahabuddin, owner of the convention centre, said the hall is as old as 35 years and he had renovated the hall beautifully but the entrance still remained slope.

The district administration closed the hall following the accident.

The Mezban was organised in 14 venues across the city including Rima Convention Centre on December 18 on the occasion of the qulkhwani of late ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, president of Chittagong City unit of the ruling Awami League and three times mayor of Chittagong City Corporation.

Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina visited the city residence of Mohiuddin Chowdhury and met the members of the bereaved families on December 24.

She donated Tk five lakh to each of the families. Mohiuddin's eldest son and Awami League central organising secretary Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naophel gave Tk1.05 lakh to each family.

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