10 Hindu devotees killed in Narayanganj stampede

At least 10 devotees are said to have been killed in a stampede at the venue of the Astami Snan, a Hindu religious ritual, in Bandar upazila of Narayanganj this morning.

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The victims were seven women and three men who thronged the Rajghat point at the banks of old Brahmaputra river, our Narayanganj correspondent reports quoting local sources.

The names of the victims were primarily obtained as Suchita Rani, 70, Bhanu Mati, 50, Rahi, 28, Kanan Shah, 50, Maloti, 60, Tulshi Debnath, 50, Bhagabati, 40, Ranjit Chandra, 55, Nukul Chandra, 55, and Nitai, 50.

Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bandar Police Station, told The Daily Star Online that the incident took place during one of the biggest Hindu ritual today around 9:00am.

Khandaker Mahid Uddin, superintendent of Narayanganj police, told The Daily Star Online around 10:00am the heard about the incident and was on his way to the site.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Mohammad Shafique, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police Faruque and other police high-ups visited the spot, the OC said.

A total of 15 points were designated for the Astami Snan today, where devotees bathe in the waters of Brahmaputra and seek divine blessings.

Bodies of those who died in the stampede in Narayanganj during the Astami Snan laid at the spot. Photo: Star

Narayanganj District Commissioner Anisur Rahman made an announcement to compensate Tk 25,000 for the victims’ families on behalf of the local administration.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert W Gibson tweeted extending his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Every year in the Bengali month of Chaitra, Hindu devotees flock to the holy place on the banks of the Brahmaputra River to celebrate Astami Snan. It is a holy bathing ritual that is believed to cleanse away the sins and distresses of the devotees.