Ten people were killed and about 18 others seriously injured in a stampede at the qul khwani of ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, former mayor of the Chittagong City Corporation, that took place around 1:30pm yesterday. The death toll is expected to rise. The injured are receiving treatment at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). Inspector Zahirul Islam Bhuiyan, in-charge of the CMCH police outpost,  told The Independent: "The on-duty doctors pronounced 10 people dead. More people are undergoing treatment. The condition of some of them is serious.” The deceased have been identified as Jantu Das, 45, Krisna Das, 40, Dipankor Das Rahur, 25, Alok Bhomik, 36, Sudip Das, 45, Prodip Das, 50, Liton Dey, 53, Tito, 32, Dhona Shil, 65, and Ashis Barua.

The incident took place at Rima Community Centre in the city’s Jamal Khan area, one of the 12 places where the qul khwani was arranged. The arrangement at that centre was especially for those belonging to the Hindu community.

According to eyewitness, food began to be served around 11am. While one batch was going out after taking lunch, another batch was waiting in front of the community centre. At one stage, all of them tried to enter the community centre together and it led to the accident.

After visiting the Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) commissioner Iqbal Bahar said that at least 15 people were rushed to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital and 10 were immediately declared dead.

“The accidents happened due to excessive human pressure. As the gate was small, too many people tried to force their way in. Ten people died after being trampled upon. However, there was no shortage of security at the venue,” claimed the CMP commissioner. The bodies were kept at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital, he said.

Mohiuddin’s family announced Tk. 100,000 in compensation for each of the families of the dead, said Awami League’s (AL's) Chittagong city unit deputy office secretary Jawaharlal Hajari. The families of the dead will also receive an additional Tk. 5,000 for funeral.

The former mayor's family will also bear the cost of treatment for the injured, said Hajari, who was in charge of the event at the community centre.

Mohibul Hassan, son of the late Mohiudin Chowdhury, rushed to the hospital after the incident.

He expressed his condolences to the victims’ families.

Marking the qul khwani of the former mayor, mezbans were arranged for at least 80,000 people of all communities at 12 places of the port city, including the Rima Convention Centre.

Mohiuddin Chowdhury, who was also the AL's Chittagong unit president, passed away early Friday at Max Hospital at the age of 73. He was the mayor of the Chittagong City Corporation for 16 years in three terms.