CHATTOGRAM, Sept 7: At least two people have died and at least five others have been injured in a stampede in the annual Eid-e-Miladunnabi procession here in the port city.
The incident took place on Saturday at the Muradpur intersection, where thousands had gathered for the religious procession organised by the Anjuman-e-Rahmaniya Ahmadia Sunnia Trust in observance of the Holy Eid e Miladunnabi (SM).
Sub-Inspector Nure Alam Ashek of the Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) Police Outpost said one victim, 60-year-old Ayub Ali from Patiya's Meher Ati village, collapsed on the road and died of heat stroke. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
A second victim, 13-year-old Saiful, died after being trampled by the crowd. He was brought to CMCH in critical condition around 1:15pm, and was later declared dead. Several other people were also injured CMCH Director Brig Gen Taslim Uddin said five others injured in the crowd crush were admitted to the hospital. One has been placed in the intensive care unit, two are being treated in the casualty ward, and two more in the orthopaedics ward.
Among the injured is Md Mahfuz, 35, from the Agrabad CDA area, who is receiving treatment in Ward 2. Another man, around 35, remains in the ICU.
The procession, known as Jashne Julus, was organised to mark the day Muslims worldwide observe as both the birth and passing of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
This was the 54th year of the event in Chattogram organized by the Anjuman-e-Rahmaniya Ahmadia Sunnia Trust.
The procession began on Saturday morning from the Alamgir Khanka-E-Quaderia Syedia Tayyabia in Sholashahar. It moved through Bibirhat, Muradpur, and Gate No. 2 before reaching GEC Circle. It then returned to Gate No. 2 and ended at Jamea Ahmadia Sunnia Kamil Madrasa. Thousands of people from across Chattogram city and surrounding areas participated in the rally.
