Wednesday, April 6 2005 17:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: At least six Hindu devotees, including a woman and a child, were killed and over 50 injured in a stampede at a festival marking the birth anniversary of a saint in south-western Bangladesh today (Apr 6, 2005), police said.

The stampede occurred as thousands of pilgrims gathered in Kasiani area of Gopalganj district, about 200 km southwest of the capital Dhaka, to take a holy dip in a pool there on the occasion of the birth anniversary of saint Hary Chand Thakur, police said.

Six devotees, including a woman and a child, were killed and more than 50 injured, they said, adding the injured were rushed to hospitals.

Thousands of Hindus have been taking part in a weeklong annual ritual marking the birth anniversary of the saint.

Hindus constitute about 10 per cent of Muslim-majority Bangladesh's 13 crore people.