Bangladesh stampede toll rises to 27

July 11, 2015 00:11

At least 27 people, all of them women and children, were killed and 50 others injured today in a stampede that took place when hundreds of people stormed the home of a businessman in northern Bangladesh for a charity handout during the holy month of Ramzan.

The stampede took place early in the morning when people gathered in front of the house of Shamim Talukder, who owns a chewing tobacco factory, to receive free gifts and clothes and tried to force their way in. 23 women and four children got trampled to death in Mymensingh town, officials said.

"About 1,500 people had gathered outside the businessman's house to collect zakat (charity)," witnesses said. "He stages this showoff every year in the name of zakat," a neighbour said.

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