Boat race held despite 'Tawhidi Janta' protest, thousands gather

The traditional 30th boat race was held on the Sonai River in Sylhet's Bianibazar upazila on Friday (August 28), despite a campaign by a group identifying themselves as 'Tawhidi Janta' demanding its cancellation. Thousands of people gathered on both banks of the river to watch the race, with the shores filling up hours before the scheduled start.

The boat race was organised by the youth of Louta and Bahadurpur villages in Louta Union, as has been the tradition every year. Police were deployed by the Sylhet district administration to ensure the safety of spectators.

Earlier, on August 18, a campaign under the banner of 'Tawhidi Janta' demanding the cancellation of the boat race had created tension in the area. Later, a meeting was arranged between both sides on the initiative of the local administration and prominent citizens. With the intervention of the upazila administration, the situation normalised, paving the way for the boat race to be held.

Masum Bin Nur Uddin, who had campaigned for the cancellation of the boat race, said he had published a poster on social media at the request of local elders, clerics and businessmen. He later removed it at the request of locals. He claimed that if the boat race was held on the Sonai River, there was a risk of crop damage to farmers and erosion affecting riverbank residents. However, he could not say whether the demand to cancel the boat race had any connection to religious sentiments.

On the other hand, Helal Uddin, one of the organisers of the boat race, said the boat race is part of the traditional culture of Bengal and has no religious restrictions. In the past, they had organised the event peacefully, and local people had participated and enjoyed it.

Local residents supporting the boat race said they had successfully completed the event despite various adversities. People from various areas of two districts came to the banks of the Sonai River to enjoy the race.

Selim Uddin, a resident of Bahadurpur village in Louta Union, said they had organised the boat race despite various obstacles. With everyone's cooperation, the event was being completed smoothly.

Former chairman Gaus Uddin said the presence of a large number of people to enjoy Bengal's heritage proved that local people wanted to enjoy the event peacefully.

Union Chairman Delwar Hossain said people from two districts had gathered on both banks of the Sonai River to watch the boat race. He hoped the event would be completed smoothly with the administration's cooperation.

After the tension created by the campaign to cancel the boat race, the traditional event was finally held with the intervention of the administration and the participation of local people. A festive atmosphere prevailed on both banks of the river.