This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/11/world/asia/stampede-in-bangladesh-amid-clothes-handout-kills-at-least-23.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Stampede in Bangladesh Kills at Least 23 at Clothing Handout Stampede in Bangladesh Kills at Least 23 at Clothing Handout
(about 11 hours later)
DHAKA, Bangladesh — At least 23 people were killed in a stampede Friday morning in a district north of here, after a large crowd gathered to accept clothes that were being donated during the month of Ramadan, the police said. DHAKA, Bangladesh — At least 23 people, all women and children, were killed in a stampede Friday morning in a district north of here, after a large crowd gathered for clothes that were being donated during the month of Ramadan, the police said.
More than 2,000 people, most of them residents of nearby slums, had assembled outside the home of a factory owner, Mohammad Shamim, for the clothing giveaway, said Moinul Haque, the police chief of the district of Mymensingh. There was “huge pressure” from the back of the crowd as people in front tried to open the gate, Mr. Haque said. More than 2,000 people, most of them residents of nearby slums, had assembled outside the home of a factory owner, Mohammad Shamim, for the clothing giveaway, said Moinul Haque, the police chief of the district of Mymensingh. There was “huge pressure” from the back of the crowd as people in front tried to open the gate, Chief Haque said.
Mr. Shamim, his son and six members of the factory’s staff were arrested, said Mohammad Kamrul Islam, a police official. The men are suspected of causing the deaths through negligence, in that they failed to organize the event properly, Mr. Haque said. Mr. Shamim, his son and six members of the factory’s staff were arrested, said Mohammad Kamrul Islam, a police official. The men are suspected of causing the deaths through negligence, in that they failed to organize the event properly, Chief Haque said.
He said that factory staff members had distributed 600 tokens to slum residents and invited them to Mr. Shamim’s home to redeem them for clothing, but that a much larger crowd had shown up around 5 a.m., after the predawn meal that is customary during Ramadan, which involves long days of fasting. He said that factory employees had distributed 600 tokens to slum residents and invited them to Mr. Shamim’s home to redeem them for clothing, but that a much larger crowd had shown up around 5 a.m., after the predawn meal that is customary during Ramadan, which involves long days of fasting.
Twenty-one of those who died were women, and the two others were children, Mr. Haque said. Some people were hospitalized, and Mr. Haque said the death toll was likely to rise. Twenty-one of those who died were women, and the two others were children, Chief Haque said. Some people were hospitalized, and Chief Haque said the death toll was likely to rise.
Wealthy Muslims commonly give donations, known as zakat, to the poor before Eid al-Fitr, the festival that signifies the end of Ramadan.Wealthy Muslims commonly give donations, known as zakat, to the poor before Eid al-Fitr, the festival that signifies the end of Ramadan.