Traditional Boat Race Held in Beanibazar Despite Local Opposition as Final Remains Undecided
Photo Collected
A traditional boat race held on the Sonai River in Beanibazar, Sylhet, concluded prematurely on Friday evening due to fading light, leaving the final results unresolved. Despite local opposition, the event took place in the Bahadurpur area of Lauta Union, drawing thousands of spectators to the riverbanks.
The competition, organized by the youth of Lauta and Bahadurpur villages, featured three teams: “Pagla Nao” from Kalijuri in Golapganj, “Bagh Nao” from Hakaluki, and “Swadhin Bangla Nao” from Ghorakandi in Barlekha. Organizers stated that a winner will be determined during a follow-up meeting. Prizes for the event included a large cow for the first-place finisher and a refrigerator for the runner-up.
Security was maintained throughout the event, with police patrolling the river in motorized vessels. Organizers noted that the race has been a local tradition for approximately 15 years, though this year’s installment faced significant resistance. A local group under the banner of “Towhidi Janata” had campaigned against the event on social media and held meetings, citing concerns over historical violence, environmental damage to riverbanks, and traffic congestion as reasons to cancel the race.
Event organizers defended the tradition, asserting that the majority of the local population supports the annual festival. Emran Ahmad Chowdhury, Member of Parliament for the Sylhet-6 constituency, served as the chief guest and publicly endorsed the event. He stated that the boat race is an integral part of rural heritage and dismissed claims that the activity is contrary to religious values, promising that the community will continue to organize and enjoy the tradition in the future.
The event was also attended by Beanibazar Upazila Executive Officer Umme Habiba Majumdar and local political leaders. During the proceedings, officials also addressed local infrastructure concerns, including plans to repair roads and manage riverbank erosion.
The race was originally planned in three stages, involving a series of qualifiers to determine the finalists. By the time darkness forced the suspension of the event, the final matchup between “Pagla Nao” and “Bagh Nao” had yet to be completed. M.A. Mannan, Chairman of Mollapur Union Parishad and a member of the organizing committee, confirmed that a decision regarding the ultimate winner would be reached in an upcoming meeting.
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