10 die in stampede during Hindu religious gathering in Narayanganj

Ten people, seven of them women, have been killed in a stampede during a Hindu ritual bath in Bangladesh’s Narayanganj.

At least 20 others were injured in the incident on Old Brahmaputra River bank at Langalbandh on Friday.

Witnesses say a rumour that a bailey bridge was collapsing triggered the stampede while many blamed mismanagement.

Police have denied the allegations.

Of the victims, Nakul Chandra Biswas, 55, was a teacher at Madaripur’s Charmugria Government Women’s College.

Others are -- Suchitra Rani, 70, Bhanu Mati, 50, ‘Rahi’, 28, Tulshi Debnath, 50, ‘Bhagabati’, 40, Kanan Saha, 50, ‘Malati’, 60, ‘Ranjit Chandra’, 55, and ‘Nitai’, 50.

Police say the bodies will be handed to families without post-mortem examinations.

The district administration announced Tk 25,000 to families of each victim for funeral.

It has formed a three-member committee that will submit findings within five days.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have mourned the casualties.

Langalbandh, 20 km southeast of Dhaka, is a Hindu holy site that hosts an annual ritual bath where pilgrims from home and abroad take part. The ritual’s origin is unclear.

An estimated 1.5 million devotees thronged Langalbandh on Friday.

Although the local administration prepared 16 quays, most devotees raced to the ancient Rajghat.

Local Union Parishad member Abdul Quadir said devotees had mostly thronged the Rajghat, Annapurna and Gandhi quays.

“The street is narrow but the bridge is narrower. People suddenly started running in a frenzy leading to the deaths,” he told bdnews24.com.

What triggered the rumour is unclear.

Mismanagement, rumour allegations

Many blamed police inaction for the incident while others say lack of ambulances led to a rise in the toll.

Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Anisur Rahman Mian blamed overcrowding for the stampede.

Three sisters -- Chhabi Rani, Rina Rani and Swapna Rani -- were crossing the bridge when the frenzy struck.

Chhabi and Rina said they suddenly realised their sister Swapna was missing.

“We heard about the bridge’s collapse and people were running wildly,” Chhabi said. “Swapna was lying over two or three persons on the road, several others had fallen over her during the stampede.”

Jony Das’ wife and mother-in-law died in the incident.

“Rahi and her mother fell on the ground. They were killed in the stampede... I couldn’t save them,” he said.

Hundreds of shoes, women’s hair, parts of clothes and other objects were seen scattered on the ground near Rajghat.

Narayanganj's Additional Superintendent of Police Md Mokhlesur Rahman rejected allegations of negligence on their part.

Port Police Station Inspector Mokarram Hossain said over 1,000 policemen had been deployed there. Reinforcements were sent after the incident.

Bashudev Chakravarty, General Secretary of ‘Langalbandh Snan Udjapan Committee’, denied mismanagement charges.

“Nobody slacked off,” he said. “The street and bailey bridge are narrow. Illegal establishments along the street caused the incident.”

Local MP AKM Selim Osman said the incident was “very sad”.

“The administration and police have been ordered to ensure hassle-free ritual baths for the devotees,” he told reporters.

Devotees said the organisers did not clear water hyacinths, there was mud in the quays and inadequate changing rooms for women.

Chakravarty denied the allegations.

“We are worried about lives because of the flow of devotees,” he told bdnews24.com.

He said the ritual would continue until 6:59am Saturday.