Finance Minister falls as stage collapses during relief distribution event

The incident occurred around 11:30 am on Friday (July 17) in the Dohazari area of the upazila.

According to eyewitnesses and local sources, the relief distribution event for flood victims was organized by Jasim Uddin, Member of Parliament for the Chattogram-14 (Chandanaish and Satkania partial) constituency. Before the Finance Minister arrived, the stage was already crowded with local leaders and activists. Despite announcements via microphone requesting extra people to step down from the stage to control the situation, it was not effective.

Later, when the Finance Minister climbed onto the stage, many others also got on simultaneously. Unable to bear the extra pressure, a portion of the stage collapsed. This caused temporary panic and commotion at the venue, but no casualties occurred.

Chandanaish Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Abdur Rahman said the entire stage did not collapse. The situation arose because the legs of several tables on the stage gave way. Later, the Finance Minister stood at the same spot, handed over relief to a few flood victims, and left the venue.

Idris Mia, convener of the Chattogram South District BNP, who was present on the stage at the time of the incident, said the accident happened because too many people climbed onto the stage. Despite repeated warnings, it was not possible to control the situation due to the excessive presence of leaders and activists. However, he expressed relief that no one was injured.