24 dead in Bangladesh charity handout stampede: police

Dhaka

 A stampede during a Ramadan charity handout killed at least 24 people in Bangladesh yesterday as hundreds of desperately poor people tried to get their hands on free clothing, police said.

 The stampede in the northern city of Mymensingh erupted when crowds of people tried to force their way into a factory compound through a small gate after massing outside before dawn, according to local police chiefs.

 "We have so far recovered 24 bodies. Most of the dead are poor and emaciated women and two children," Mymensingh police chief Moinul Haque told AFP, putting the number of injured at more than 50.

 Kamrul Islam, a senior officer, said the death toll was likely to rise further while local media said scores of people had also been injured.

 "We have handed over 24 bodies to the relatives," Islam said.

 A witness told the bdnews24 website that the stampede began when a number of people fell to the ground as a melee erupted.

 "As the gate was opening, everybody ran towards it, pushing and shoving each other and then they started falling," said rickshaw-puller Dulal Mia.

 "Once one person fell to the ground, another 15 to 20 people fell, too. The people got killed when they closed the gate."

 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock over the tragedy, according to the state-run BSS news agency.

 Meanwhile, the religious affairs ministry said it would pay each family 10,000 taka (around $125) to cover the cost of the funerals of their relatives.

 Police and local officials said that the owner of the factory and six other people have been arrested for failing to ensure public safety.

 "Legal action will be taken against them," District Governor Mustakim Billah told reporters.

 A special police committee has been set up to investigate the tragedy and is due to report its findings within the next three days.

 Police said up to 1,500 people had massed outside the factory at around 4:45 am (2245 GMT on Thursday) after the owners had announced they would distribute free clothes to poor people in accordance with Islamic ritual.