Five injured as ferris wheel tilts at unauthorised fair in Gazipur
Locals said several unauthorised fairs have recently been held in different parts of Gazipur without following any rules or regulations. District and metropolitan police teams have shut down some of these fairs in raids
At least five people were injured when a moving Ferris wheel tipped over at an unauthorised fair in Gazipur on Tuesday (30 September).
Locals said several unauthorised fairs have recently been held in different parts of Gazipur without following any rules or regulations. District and metropolitan police teams have shut down some of these fairs in raids.
Later, a team from the Joydebpur fire station visited the scene after receiving the report.
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The latest fair was set up near the cantonment in Shimultali, on land allocated for BMTE Ltd Army Pharma Factory, under the banner of a small and cottage industries fair.
From the beginning, a Ferris wheel had been operating on the fairgrounds. Around 5pm, 25–30 visitors boarded the ride when it suddenly tilted, injuring at least five people.
Eyewitnesses alleged that immediately after the incident, the organisers quickly rescued the injured under tight security and took them to an undisclosed location, while also preventing journalists from taking photographs.
Senior station officer Md Abdus Samad of the Joydebpur fire station, who led the inspection team, said the accident occurred because the ground beneath the Ferris wheel was filled with sand, which sank.
"Normally, such a large ride cannot be installed on sand. Authorities should be questioned about who gave permission to set it up in such a risky area," he said.
Md Zahidul Hasan, additional police commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), said no one had applied for permission to hold the fair. "We did not give any approval," he confirmed.
Additional District Magistrate Salma Khatun also said, "No application was made to the deputy commissioner, so the question of giving permission does not arise."
An official of the Gazipur district administration, seeking anonymity, said that under the 2024 Fair Guidelines, the deputy commissioner can grant permission to hold a fair for up to one month in the district or metropolitan area.
"But in this case, the organisers did not apply to the DC; they only sent a notification letter. After receiving it, we wrote to the metropolitan police requesting them to shut down the unauthorised fair," the official said.
Meanwhile, one of the fair organisers, Mahmud, claimed the army had approved the event.
However, Gazipur Cantonment Board Executive Officer Abujar Gifari told reporters, "We were only informed, but we did not give any approval."
