A group calling itself the “Tawhidi Janata” has demanded the cancellation of a traditional boat race scheduled on the Sunai River for 28 August in the Beanibazar area of Sylhet.
The group held a meeting on Thursday (20 August) under the banner of “Tawhidi Janata Lauta Union,” where it called for the cancellation of the competition.
However, organisers said they will go ahead with the event despite the opposition, arguing that the boat race is part of Bengal’s longstanding cultural heritage.
Aminul Islam, general secretary of the race organising committee, said today (22 August) that the competition will take place as scheduled.
“We held a meeting on Friday to discuss preparations, and another meeting is scheduled for this evening,” he said.
Police, meanwhile, said permission from the district administration will be required because of the conflicting positions taken by the two sides.
Beanibazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Zafar Mohammad Mahfuzul Karim said no boat race will be allowed without permission from the district authorities.
“We have heard that there are two opposing sides there. So we have informed the organisers that the boat race cannot take place without permission from the district administration,” he said.
Locals said the annual competition is being organised, as in previous years, by the youth communities of Lauta union.
The organisers said they have not faced any opposition to the event in the past.
The development has raised concerns among local residents about the possibility of a confrontation.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a resident said the boat race is a source of entertainment for people in the area, with hundreds attending every year.
“But some kind of trouble has started this time. Threats are being issued under the banner of ‘Tawhidi Janata.'”
Delwar Hossain, chairman of Lauta Union Parishad, said there have been discussions on Facebook both in favour of and against the boat race.
“I have heard about attempts to obstruct the event. Apart from that, I do not know much,” he said.
Meanwhile, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Umme Habiba Majumder said she is not aware of any attempt to obstruct the boat race.
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