In a jostle for zakat clothes, 23 women and four children got trampled to death in Mymensingh town early yesterday with the authorities fearing the death toll may rise.

Police and witnesses said since Thursday night over 1,000 people had started gathering on the narrow Atul Chakrabarty Road outside the home of zakat donor Mohammad Shamim, who owns a chewing tobacco brand Nurani Jarda.

Shamim had announced the distribution of free clothing at his home which also serves as his factory.

Around 5:00am, a small gate to the factory was opened and some people seeking zakat clothes went in but it was difficult to go through with every one trying to get in.

When the main gate was opened to let people in, the crowd stormed the compound.

Relatives and acquaintances of those who died and were injured in a stampede gather on the premises of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital after they were taken to the hospital. Photo: Star

With zakat seekers running and pushing and shoving each other in their frantic effort to get the clothes, some fell to the ground and got trampled, they said.

Over 50 people were injured.

After the incident, hundreds of sandals and blood spattered torn clothes were seen at the scene. 

Some alleged that the workers of the factory had swooped on them with truncheons, worsening the situation during the incident.

"As they [the workers] beat us inside the gate, people started running. Many fell on the ground at that time," said Ambia Begum, 50, who had managed to get out of the compound unhurt.

Shamim's family refuted the allegation.

However, a murder case was filed and Shamim, his son and six factory employees were arrested.

"No incident of beating occurred. Some of our employees shouted at the zakat seekers just to control the situation but we did not even misbehave with the poor people," said Shamim's son Mohammad Hedayet, a director of the factory.

"We had distributed 640 cards among the people of a local Bihari camp yesterday [Thursday] but some 1,500 people gathered and stormed the compound," said Hedayet.

They had a budget of distributing 1,000 saris and lungis among the poor this year, he added.

Abdur Rashid, senior assistant superintendent of police of Mymensingh, told The Daily Star, "They [the factory authorities] did not inform us about distributing zakat to such a huge number of people. They did not ask for any help from us either."

Before his arrest, Shamim said he had been distributing zakat for the last 35 years and such incident had never occurred.

Asked why they did not seek police help, Shamim said they never had the necessity.

Farhad Hossain, a physician at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), said the reasons for the deaths were stampede and suffocation.

The dead were identified as Sakhina, 40, and her daughter Lamia, 5; Johra Begum, 40; Nazma Begum, 50; Fatema Begum Fateh, 42; Hamida Begum, 45; Fatema Begum, 42; Rezia Begum, 40; Sufia Begum, 60; Khodeja Begum, 50; Siddik Mia, 12; Samu Begum, 60; Hazera Begum, 50; Fazila Begum, 75; Meghna Basak, 35; Sudha Rani Sarker, 55; Rina Rani, 60; Jamila Khatun, 65; Morium Begum, 50; Rupali, 40; Rahima Begum, 55; Sahara Begum, 40; Samola Begum, 30; Rubiya Akhtar, 12; Nazma Akhtar, 60; Khodeja Akhter, 50, and her granddaughter Bristi, 12.

The bodies were handed over to the families, said Kamrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station.

Among the over 50 injured, two people were still admitted to the medical college in critical conditions.

As the holy month of Ramadan nears the end, the well-off distribute zakat, an act of charity. Often, they help the poor with clothes or money.

Last year, two people were killed in a stampede when the hundreds gathered to collect zakat clothes at a company's office on Katpatti Road in Barisal.

PROBE AND COMPENSATION

A three-member probe body, led by Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police Shafiqul Islam, was formed yesterday to investigate the incident.

The committee was asked to submit its report in three working days.

Mymensingh district administration also formed a three-member committee led by Additional District Magistrate Mollica Khatun. It would submit its report within the same time.

The religious affairs ministry and district administration separately announced to give Tk 10,000 to each of the victim's families, said ANM Faizul Haque, upazila nirbahi officer of Mymensingh sadar upazila.

'ASK FOR POLICE HELP'

Police headquarters yesterday issued a statement asking people to seek their help in distributing zakat or for any "uncontrolled" large gatherings.

The statement made on behalf of Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque said the superintendents of police of districts or the officers-in-charge of police stations should be informed at least a day ahead of such events.

The statement warned of legal actions if there was a lack of security in any such unannounced gatherings.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury expressed profound shock at the deaths.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also expressed her sympathy and urged the government to compensate the families.