Controversy over Sangraying festival in Bandarban is resolved, the festival will be held at two places

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The conflict between the two sides over organizing the Sangraing festival of the Marma community in Bandarban has been resolved. The two parties will celebrate the festival separately on Friday at two places in the district. This decision was made yesterday Thursday through the mediation of local dignitaries.

Sangraying festival is being organized by a central festival committee in the district town of Bandarban. When the government changes, the committee usually changes. However, due to the conflict between the two sides of BNP in Bandarban, there have been two celebration committees this time. Conflict arose as both the committees wanted to organize the festival at the same place.

Speaking to the leaders of the two committees, it was learned that according to the agreement, the newly formed festival committee will organize the festival at Rajarmath in the city and the old committee will organize the festival at Sangunder Bank in Ujanipara. The two committees will assist each other in organizing the festival. The administration will take necessary measures including security for the two festivals.

Earlier, both the committees had announced to organize alternate festivals at the city’s Rajaramatha. In the beginning, the two sides failed to reach a consensus even after several meetings on the matter. Amidst the adamant stance of the two sides on organizing the festival, some prominent Marma people, led by human rights activist Aung Ch Mong Marma, were later given the responsibility to resolve the issue.

Aung Ch Mong Marma told Prothom Alo that the last meeting of civil society was held with the leaders of the old committee led by Ch Nu Mong Marma yesterday morning. The meeting proposed to the leaders of the old celebration committee to take two issues into consideration. The first proposal is that the old committee will refrain from organizing the Sangraying festival this time, the second is to organize the festival at a different place. They accepted the second proposal.

When asked, Deputy Commissioner Saniul Ferdous said that the festival committee led by Ch Nu Mong Marma has decided to organize the festival at different places, so everyone’s discomfort has gone away. The matter was also discussed with Bomang Chief. Now everyone wants a peaceful festival with mutual cooperation.