Ten persons have died and over 40 others sustained injuries, some of them critically, in a stampede at the kulkhwani of former mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury in Chittagong.

The fatalities took place at Rima Community Centre, one of the 14 venues of the kulkhwani, which was specially arranged for the Hindu community.

But why the stampede took place at only this venue while the kulkhawani programmes at rest of the centres were peaceful?

The Daily Star has talked to a number of people including witnesses, police, organisers and local representatives in this regard.

Mohammad Hamid, a duty officer of Chittagong Medical College Hospital police camp, said the fatalities took place while people were scurrying into the community centre.

Many eyewitnesses held the slope at the entrance of the centre responsible for the incident.

Echoing same reason, Shaibal Das Suman, a local ward councilor of Chittagong City Corporation, said as the pressure of crowd was increasing at the entrance many people could not control their balance due to the slope.

Debashish, organising secretary of Chittagong north district unit Awami League, said although the arrangement was for the non-Muslims at this convention centre, people from all religious groups came there, leading to the stampede.

Pranab Das, a member of Chittagong city unit Jubo League, said they were trying to control the crowd but all of a sudden some 1,500 people tried to enter the community centre at the same time.

Shoibal Das alleged that Rima Convention Centre can hardly accommodate 4,000 people but the organisers arranged feast for some 10,000 people there.

Those who were in the management were not expert handling that sort of big crowd, said the ward councilor.

Many witnesses alleged that the on-duty police officials played the role of silent spectators while the crowd went crazy to enter the community centre together.

“We expected around one lakh people in 14 community centres in the city but presence of people exceeded our expectations, said Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, son of Mohiuddin Chowdhury.

“As it was a programme for mourning, police could not go for charging batons on the crowd,” said Mostain Hossain, deputy commissioner (south zone) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, claiming that on-duty policemen were, however, trying to control the situation.