7 devotees killed in stampede at Gopalganj Baruni Mela

Gopalganj, April 6 (BDNEWS) – Seven devotees were killed in a stampede Wednesday morning while taking part in Baruni bath of Matua community in Gopalganj. More than a hundred others were injured.

The week-long fair began Wednesday at Orakandi of Kashiani thana on the occasion of the 183rd birth anniversary of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur, the founder of the Matua community.

The dead include four women, two men and one child. They are – Arati Palit (62), Jilapi Das (62), Arati Pal (58), Putul Patra (45), Chandrakanta Haldar (57), Mahadev Dey (35) and Milon Dhar (10).

As usual, thousands of devotees gathered at Orakandi for the fair. There are two lakes beside the Thakurbari named Kamonasagar and Dudhsagar. They think taking baths in the two lakes will lead to the fulfilment of their wishes and absolution of their sins.

SI Hossain Ali of Ramdia police outpost in Kashiani thana said, six Matua devotees died instantly at 8:35am while trying to bathe according to Matua traditions. Orakandi is situated nearly 40 kilometres north-west of Gopalganj town.

Indian High Commissioner Veena Sikri who was staying in Gopalganj and visited the mazar of the Bangabandhu went to Orakandi to console the bereaved relatives.

The Matua community have a strong position among the low-caste Hindus of southern Bangladesh. Nearly fifty fairs of the community are held at different places of Khulna and Barisal divisions. The Orakandi fair is recognised as the major fair of the community.

BDNEWS/1646 hrs