A man died in a stampede while attending the funeral prayers of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, which drew massive crowds in the capital on Wednesday. Several others reportedly fell ill due to the intense crowding, pushing, and heat.
The incident occurred around 3:00pm at Manik Mia Avenue during the janaza. The deceased has been identified as Manik Mia, 56, a resident of Bhola district.
Eyewitnesses said that large numbers of people had gathered even before the janaza began. At one point, the crowd surged, causing pushing and shoving. Manik Mia reportedly fell to the ground and became unwell. Bystanders attempted to rescue him and rushed him to the nearest hospital, but he was declared dead on the way.
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station’s duty officer, Sub-Inspector Amrit, said, “We have received reports of a death during the janaza. Our officers are trying to reach the scene, but the dense crowd is making movement difficult. More details will follow later.”
