Eight people killed in stampede for free cloth

At least seven women and a child were killed in two separate stampedes today when thousands of destitute Bangladeshis scrambled for charity clothing distributed ahead of a Muslim festival, news reports said.

Another 16 people were injured in the stampedes that occurred four days before Muslims in Bangladesh were to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festival marking the end of a month of fasting, the United News of Bangladesh and ATN Bangla television station reported.