 |
|
The
deaths were caused by a stampede to receive clothes
|
With
additional reporting by Ahmed Faruque Hassan, IOL Bangladesh
correspondent
DHAKA,
December 1 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - At least forty seven
people were killed Sunday, December 1, in Bangladesh’s northwestern
town of Gaibandha in a stampede after thousands of poor gathered to
receive the annual Eid-ul-Fitr zakat.
An
unconfirmed report claimed that 14 more died either on the way to or
in hospital.
Witnesses
said about 10,000 people responded to an earlier announcement by
gathering at the Paschimpara residence of Abdul Wahid, owner of Nahid
Cotton Mills in Tangail, at 7 am to collect zakat clothes.
However, they were asked to go to the adjacent Adamjee go-down to take
the clothes. In the rush to get to the go-down, 33 people were
instantly killed.
The
toll could rise as many of the injured victims were rushed to hospital
in a critical condition, police said.
Eid-ul-Fitr
zakat is an Islamic obligation in which rich Muslims give to the poor
ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the festival which marks the end of the holy
month of Ramadan.
Police
detained two people for questioning, including Wahid’s younger
brother. Senior police and district officials have visited the scene.
It
was not the first time stampedes during zakat distribution has proved
fatal. In 1987, five people died in a similar incident in the
southeastern port city of Chittagong, while 11 were killed in 1989,
prompting police appeals to people to take extra care when
distributing clothes and money.
Prime
Minister Khaleda Zia directed the authorities concerned to form an
inquiry committee to investigate the incident.
Begum Zia, now in Mecca for performing ‘Umrah, or lesser pilgrimage,
expressed deep shock at the deaths.
In
a condolence message she conveyed her sympathies to the members of the
bereaved families and prayed for salvation of the departed souls.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that people and local
authorities would take “adequate precautionary measures for the
proper management of zakat distribution to avoid recurrence of such
incidence.”
 |
|
The
death toll may rise as many of the injured victims were rushed to
hospital in a critical condition
|
The
government’s religious ministry last month called on well-off
Muslims to send donations to the government so that a special fund
could be set up for poverty alleviation and related religious projects
nationwide, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Zia
last month formally launched the fund with scores of industrialists
and rich businessmen offering money.
The
state-run Islamic Foundation, which oversees thousands of mosques
nationwide, also receives donations for the poor.
Islam
encourages well-off Muslims to give donations at the end of Ramadan,
which ends later this week with the celebration of Eid, for which the
government has declared a three-day national holiday beginning
Wednesday, December 3.
Bangladesh
is the world’s third largest Muslim-majority country.
|
|
Iraq:
-
Government to
Decide If Australia Joins U.S. Attack on Iraq
-
Thousands Stage
Anti-War Rally in Turkey Ahead of Visit By U.S. Officials
-
At Least 8 Killed,
20 Injured As U.S., U.K. Planes Bomb Iraq
-
India Supports
Iraq, Says Saddam Shouldn't Feel Let Down
-
Inspection Team Checks ‘Mother of All Battles’ Complex
-
New British Dossier on Iraq, U.S. Interests Endangered By Strike
Palestine:
-
Abu Mazen Urges Total End to Anti-Israel Operations
-
Israeli Army Kills Two Palestinians, Wounds Three In Gaza
-
Al-Durra Comes Back to Life
Ramadan
-
Ramadan in Mexico
-
Muslims in Kosovo Perform Taraweeh in the Open
-
Last Friday Prayers in Bangladesh Observed with Religious Solemnity
-
New Muslims Enjoy Peace, Serenity
of Ramadan Fast
-
Pakistan Warns India against
War-Mongering
-
Fierce Inter-Afghan Fighting,
U.S. Intervenes with B-52 Bombers
-
Jordanian Union Bodies to
Continue Anti-Normalization Policies
-
Babri Masjid Demolition Case
Takes a New Turn, Muslims Dismayed
-
Five Lynched Dalits Mistaken
for "Muslims"
-
Sheikh Hasina Responsible: Bangladesh Jama'at Chief
-
Basyir Group Pressing for His Release from Custody
-
Globe Marks AIDS Day, Islamic Morals Prevent Spread of Disease
-
47 Bangladeshis Killed While Collecting Eid-ul-Fitr Zakat
-
France Evacuates Foreigners From Ivory Coast, Fighting Worsens
-
Kenyan Muslims Fear Backlash, Say “It’s Not Our War”
-
Chechen
War Reaches Moscow
-
World
Wide War
-
Invasion
into Gaza
-
Arafat
HQ Destroyed… In Pictures
-
Homeless in Minutes
-
War on Iraq.. World Reaction
|
|
|
|
|
|
