Boat Race Halted in Sirajganj Amid BNP-Jamaat Conflict; Section 144 Imposed

❐ District Representative

A disagreement has arisen between the leaders of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami over the scheduling of the traditional boat race on the Karatoya River in Ullapara, Sirajganj. As the dispute arose over the announcement of separate dates by both the parties, the local administration has suspended the traditional event and imposed Section 144 in the area to maintain peace and order.

It is worth mentioning that this competition has been organized for many years on the spontaneous initiative of the locals in the Karatoya River adjacent to Kaliganj Ghat in Panchakoshi Union of the upazila. Maintaining that continuity, BNP had announced the decision to organize the boat race on September 7, 8 and 9.

However, soon after this, Jamaat leaders announced the schedule of the bye-election on September 4 and 5 at the same place and started preparations. As a result, tension spread between both the parties and both the parties approached the upazila administration to resolve the issue.

BNP-backed organizing committee convener and former UP member Selim Reza said that they had made the overall plan for the 17th boat race at Kaliganj Ghat, where Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku was invited as the chief guest and Jamaat leader Rafiqul Islam Khan, MP for Sirajganj-4 (Ullapara) constituency, was invited as the special guest.

According to Selim Reza, Jamaat leader Zahurul Islam Penu built another stage right next to their pre-arranged stage and organized a counter-arrangement on September 4 and 5. In such a situation, the administration was forced to impose Section 144 in the ghat area from September 4 to avoid an undesirable situation.

The BNP leader claims that the opponent has purposefully created such a confrontational stance with the aim of destroying this long-standing folk culture.

He also said that since it is a tradition of the entire region, the event should not be completely stopped; therefore, efforts are being made to complete the competition collectively with all parties involved.

On the other hand, Zahurul Islam Penu, general secretary of the Jamaat-backed celebration committee and secretary of Panchkoshi Union Jamaat, has a different claim.

He said that initial preparations were made for the event on September 4 and 5, with the Power Minister as the chief guest and the local MP as the special guest. However, it was impossible for the Power Minister to attend as he was ill and undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The Jamaat leader claimed that BNP, realizing the minister’s absence, had purposefully complained to the administration to cancel the event.

Despite multiple attempts to contact Ullapara Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Raihanul Islam on his official mobile phone and sending messages to him, no response was received.

However, Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam clarified that BNP and Jamaat had separately organized boat races at the same place at Kaliganj Ghat without taking any prior administrative permission. Later, after mutual complaints from both sides, the local police station expressed fear of a serious deterioration in the law and order situation.

Considering overall security, the upazila administration stopped the event and ordered the continuation of Section 144 in Kaliganj Ghat and its surrounding areas until further orders.

Ullapara Model Police Station OC Mehedi Hasan confirmed that the overall situation there is currently under control and calm.