Zakat stampede kills 25 in Mymensingh

At least 25 women and children died until 10:00 pm on Friday in a pre-dawn stampede in Mymensingh town, triggered by an early morning free Zakat clothes giveaway, reports the bdnews24.com quoting the police.
The police said the 5:00 am handout at a chewing tobacco factory saw a large number of dole seekers rush towards the narrow gate "as soon as it was opened".
More than 1,000 people gathered in front of the factory to collect the Zakat clothes, sources said.
Police have brought charges of murder against Nurani Jorda owner, his son and six others over the deaths in the stampede.
Sub-Inspector Rafikul Islam filed a case on Friday afternoon, Kotwali Police Station OC Kamrul Islam told bdnews24.com.
"The accused have been charged with murder in the case," the OC said.
Seven people including Shamim Talukder, the owner of the Nurani Jorda factory at the town's Atul Chakravorty Road, were detained after the incident, OC Islam said.
He added around 50 women victims were being treated at the Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital. Police had been ordered to investigate the deaths.
There was confusion over the death toll, as bodies were said to have been taken away from the spot by relatives.
Soon after the incident, the police control room said they had reports on 27 deaths but there was no confirmation.
Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Mustakim Billah Faruqui confirmed 18 deaths around 10:30 am to the bdnews24.com.
Half an hour later, SP Haque confirmed that 23 bodies had been taken to the morgue.
The police and the Mymensingh district administration have formed separate committees to investigate the incident.
Dhaka Division's Additional DIG Shafiqul Islam will lead the three-member Police Headquarters probe. APBn Commandant Mostofa Kamal and ASP Afzal Hossain of DMP will assist him.
The panel has five days to submit its findings, Police Headquarters' Public Relations Officer AKM Kamrul Hassan has told the bdnews24.com.
Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Mostakim Billah Faruqui told bdnews24.com they had ordered Additional District Magistrate Mallika Khatun to probe the incident and submit her findings within three days.
According to UNB, after the tragedy in Mymensingh Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul
Hoque called for seeking police help to ensure security during the distribution of Zakat clothes or any other mass gathering. AIG (Media) of the Police Headquarters Nazrul Islam confirmed it.
The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry also asked the people to receive the help of police while distributing Zakat clothes to avoid any untoward incident.
The ministry also expressed shock at the casualties in the stampede in Mymensingh, said a PID handout.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan said on Friday legal action would be taken against those responsible for the stampede.
While talking to the news agency 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.