Overcrowded stage collapses at Khosru’s Chattogram event

Despite repeated announcements, party leaders and activists stay on the platform until it gives way

A stage has collapsed while Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury was distributing relief to flood victims at Dohazari in Chattogram's Chandanaish Upazila.

The stage gave way around 11:30am after becoming overcrowded, though local officials said no one was injured.

According to locals, the event was organised by Jasim Uddin Ahmed, the Chattogram-14 MP for Chandanaish and part of Satkania.

Before the finance minister arrived, local party leaders and activists had packed the stage, ignoring repeated announcements to step down.

More party leaders and activists climbed onto the stage after the finance minister arrived, and minutes later, it gave way with Khosru, Chattogram Mayor Shahadat Hossain and several senior leaders still on it.

Despite the collapse, the guests completed the relief distribution from the damaged platform before leaving.

Md Abdur Rahman, the Upazila administrator (UNO) of Chandanaish, told bdnews24.com: "The stage sank slightly because there were too many people on it. There were no further problems, and the relief distribution was completed."

Afterward, the finance minister and other BNP leaders left for Satkania to continue distributing relief among flood-affected people.