Stampede at Jashore religious assembly; 20 injured

At least 20 people were injured in a stampede at Waz Mahfil (religious congregation) in Jashore district town on Friday night.

A Waz Mahfil was organised at Ad-din Sakina Medical College Hospital premises at Pulerhat of the district town on Friday night where Islamic scholar Dr Mizanur Rahman Azhari was scheduled to deliver Islamic speech.

Witnesses said a scuffle broke out among the devotees at the main gate of the programme as hundreds of people tried to enter or leave the venue altogether, triggering chaos.

At one stage, some people fell and were crushed underfoot, leaving 20 injured.

The injured were taken to Jashore General Hospital, said Dr Zubaida, the duty doctor at the hospital.

But, Abdur Razzak, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, could not confirm the exact number of the injured.

Vehicular movement on the Jashore-Benapole Highway remained suspended due to the presence of a large number of people on it.