Pavilion collapses at Sreemangal event venue ahead of PM’s arrival

A pavilion made for beneficiaries at a family card distribution programme in Sreemangal collapsed after being hit by strong winds on Wednesday (June 17), just hours before Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman was scheduled to attend the event.

The incident took place around 11:30am at the grounds of Sreemangal Victoria High School, where hundreds of beneficiaries and guests had gathered ahead of the programme.

Witnesses said a sudden gust of wind caused a section of the temporary structure to collapse, triggering panic among those seated underneath.

Despite the scare, no casualties or injuries were reported. Attendees quickly moved to safety as officials and volunteers responded to the situation.

Following the incident, organizers dismantled the damaged section of the pavilion and rearranged seating in the open field to ensure the programme could proceed as planned.

Authorities confirmed that the main stage prepared for the prime minister remained unaffected and suffered no damage.

Officials involved in the arrangements said the incident would not affect the scheduled programme. Necessary safety measures were taken immediately, and preparations resumed shortly afterward.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived at Osmani International Airport at 10:17am before travelling by road to Moulvibazar as part of his one-day visit to the district.

According to the itinerary, he is scheduled to attend a family card distribution programme at the Sreemangal Victoria High School ground at 1:00pm and later join another distribution event at the grounds of Moulvibazar Government High School at 2:30pm.