Stampede kills 10 Hindu devotees

Staff Reporter :At least 10 devotees, including seven women, died in a stampede during the ‘Astami Snan’, a Hindu holy bath, on the Old Brahmaputra River, at Langalbandh in Bandar upazila of Narayanganj on Friday morning.The devotees, who met the tragic end of their lives, were identified 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.Superintendent of Narayanganj police Khandaker Mahid Uddin confirmed to The New Nation on Friday noon at least 10 Hindu devotees, including seven women, died in the stampede and about 20 others were seriously injured due to a stampede at about 9.15am. According to police and witnesses, the holy bath at about 5.50am and it will conclude at 6.59am today (Saturday). Mahid Uddin said a total of 16 points had been designated for the Astami Snan, where devotees bathe in the waters of Brahmaputra and seek divine blessings The Narayanganj police super said as the Hindu community believes that out of the 16 points, Rajghat is the holiest one to satisfy the their God, most of the devotees tried to throng the point to take the holy bath, resulting in death of the 10 people in the stampede.The devotees, however, alleged that the tragic incident took place due to lack of sufficient number of volunteers. As a result, a chaotic situation was created during taking the holy bath, they said, adding that the presence of law enforcers was also inadequate. The victims’ family members also alleged that the local administration did not take enough preventive me4asures in this regard. Hundreds thronged the accident site while the air was thick with wailing of relatives desperately looking for their loved ones. Nazrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Bandar thana, said as the devotees in large number started rushing fast indiscriminately towards the Rajghat point, the stamped took place. However, Basudeb Chakraborti, Secretary of Langalbandh Snan (bathing) Festival, ruled out the allegation saying that as the road and culvert leading to the designated bathing points are narrow, the incident took place.  Meanwhile, President Mohammad Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Raushan Ershad and Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia expressed deep shock at the deaths of 10 devotees in a stampede.Langalbandh, a Hindu holy place, is situated on the bank of the Old Brahmaputra close to the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and about 20 km to the southeast of Dhaka city. It hosts the religious gathering in which thousands of Hindu devotees from Bangladesh, India and Nepal take part in a holy bath every year.Every year in the Bengali month of Chaitra, Hindu devotees flock to Langalbandh, 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.