BNP-Jamaat rivalry halts boat race in Sirajganj

A traditional boat race in Sirajganj has been halted after local BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami factions scheduled competing events at the same venue on the Karotoa River.

The Jamaat-backed race was planned for yesterday and today at Kaliganj Ghat. The BNP-backed event was scheduled for September 7 to 9. Local administration officials suspended both programs, citing concerns that the rivalry could threaten law and order.

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We announced the programme earlier. Suddenly, they [Jamaat men] announced their programme and set up a shed beside our venue.

Jamaat leader Johurul Islam said the annual race is normally organized jointly by local residents. He said the groups initially planned an event at Ramakantapur Ghat, but BNP supporters withdrew after former energy minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud fell ill. Jamaat then organized its own race at Kaliganj Ghat, with Jamaat MP Rafikul Islam Khan due to attend as chief guest, he said.

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As both groups scheduled conflicting events at the same venue, tensions were rising and threatened local peace.

Johurul said BNP supporters later complained about the event and announced their own race at the same location. Local BNP leader and former union parishad chairman Selim Reza gave the opposite account, saying BNP had announced its program first and accusing Jamaat supporters of arranging a second event to disrupt it. “We announced the programme earlier. Suddenly, they [Jamaat men] announced their programme and set up a shed beside our venue,” he told local journalists.

Ullapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rayhanul Islam said neither group had obtained the required administrative permission. “As both groups scheduled conflicting events at the same venue, tensions were rising and threatened local peace,” he said. “To maintain law and order, we suspended both programmes.” The administration has asked the two groups to organize the traditional boat race jointly.

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To maintain law and order, we suspended both programmes.