8 remanded for 3 days
Mymensingh stampede
Our Correspondent, Mymensingh
A Mymensingh court has placed Zakat donor Mohammad Shamim, his son and six others on three-day remand in a murder case filed over the deaths of 27 people in stampede during Zakat distribution on July 10.
Judge Ahsan Habib of Cognisance Court-1 passed the order after hearing the remand prayer that was filed on Saturday. Musiur Rahman, sub-inspector of Kotwali police and investigation officer of the case, sought seven-day remand for each of the eight arrestees and the court granted their three-day remand.
Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister principal Motiur Rahman visited the spot in Mymensingh town yesterday where the 27 people were trampled. The incident took place when over a thousand people gathered near the house of M Shamim, a local businessman, to collect Zakat. Several socio-cultural and political organisations have protested the incident of deaths demanding punishment for those responsible. They also demanded proper compensations for the victims families.
Meanwhile, the chief of a government-formed probe committee informed that the committee has started its formal work yesterday. Additional District Magistrate Mollica Khatun, the probe body chief, said she along with other members visited houses of victims located at different parts of the town and talked to victims family members and neighbours to learn the actual facts behind the incident.
Speaking on the basis of the committees initial findings, Mollica Khatun said that the absence of security measures to tackle the crowd of Zakat seekers is believed to be the main reason for the death of 27 in a stampede on Friday.
Mollica said local people are also blaming Zakat donor Mohammad Shamim, who owns chewing tobacco brand Nurani Jarda, for the deaths as he organised the programme without informing police or the local administration. The probe report will be submitted by Tuesday, said Mollica Khatun.
Meanwhile, the three-member probe body formed by police began its investigation Saturday, informed Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police Shafiqul Islam, who heads the body.
For dereliction of duty over the tragedy, sub-inspector Saidul Islam, in-charge of Mymensingh police outpost-2, was suspended on Saturday, said police. Atul Chakrabarty Road, the place where the incident occurred on Friday morning, falls under the jurisdiction of that police outpost.
Saidul was the outpost in-charge, but he failed to inform his seniors about the incident, said Abdur Rashid, assistant superintendent of police in Mymensingh.
