Government pledges to Tawhidi Janata: ‘There will be no more boat races from next year; August 28 will be the last one’

❐ Local correspondent

The government was forced to bow to the extremists called the Thowhidi Janata. The administration gave a ‘bond’ on the condition that no more boat races would be organized after this year.

After a day of intense tension, the administration claims that the complications arising from the boat race organized on the Sunai River in Lauta Union of Beanibazar Upazila of Sylhet have been resolved. Lauta Union Parishad Chairman Delwar Hossain said that it has been decided not to organize a boat race on the Sunai River from next year as one of the conditions of the agreement with the extremists.

As a result, a boat racing competition will be held on the Sunai River on August 28th as per the pre-scheduled schedule, initiated by the Bahadurpur Gangpa Youth Society. The organizers have also confirmed that the competition will be held on time.

A meeting was held on the ground floor of Pubali Bank PLC in Baraigram Bazar after Isha prayers on Saturday, August 22. Youths, elders, public representatives and dignitaries from different villages of Lauta Union participated in the meeting. The situation surrounding the boat race, the opinions of the locals and various aspects of avoiding such complications in the future were discussed during the long discussion.

The meeting, chaired by Lauta Union Parishad Chairman Delwar Hossain, was attended by Mollapur Union Parishad Chairman MA Mannan, former Lauta Union Parishad Chairman Gaus Uddin, UP member Abdul Latif, Beanibazar Upazila BNP Vice-President Ataur Rahman, Lauta Union BNP President Jalal Uddin, JASAS Beanibazar Upazila Branch Convener Mujibur Rahman, social worker Abdul Wahab, Lauta Union Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary Abdul Ahad, Beanibazar Upazila Jubo Dal Joint Convener and Lauta Union Jubo Dal President Enam Uddin Dilal, Abdul Malik and Khaled Ahmed, as well as prominent figures from the area, youth society and people from different classes and professions.

The speakers at the meeting said that boat racing has been a long-standing traditional event in this region. Everyone must play a responsible role so that any misunderstanding or disagreement surrounding this event does not destroy the peace, harmony and goodwill of the area. They also opined that a peaceful solution to any local problem is possible through discussion.

However, among the protesters demanding a ban on boat races, Maulana Nurur Rahman Masuk, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Beanibazar Upazila branch secretary Maulana Abdul Haque Qasemi, and Ward No. 3 Jamaat-e-Islami president Hossain Ahmed were not present at the meeting.

Lauta Union Parishad Chairman Delwar Hossain said that they have agreed to a peaceful resolution of the issue considering the local situation. At the same time, he said that they have also denied the issue of protesting under the banner of ‘Tawheedi Janata’.

Lauta Union Parishad Chairman Delwar Hossain said, “The organizing organization Bahadur Gangpar Youth Society has requested the opportunity to organize the boat race competition on time this year. However, they will not organize boat races on the Sunai River from next year. The problem has been resolved peacefully as both parties agreed to this decision.”

Chairman Delwar Hossain also said, “The meeting also emphasized that no new disputes or tensions should arise around this year’s event. After lengthy discussions, a compromise based on mutual understanding has been reached, which has brought relief to the locals.”

Meanwhile, Aminul Islam, general secretary of the boat race organizing committee, said that the competition will be held on August 28 at the scheduled time. He said, “The boat race will be held on time. No one will be confused about this.”

Aminul Islam said that the complications surrounding the boat race have been resolved through cooperation and mutual discussions with the locals. Now, preparations are underway to organize the competition as per the pre-determined schedule.

Attempts were made to contact Beanibazar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Umme Habiba Majumder on her mobile phone to inquire about this matter, but her statement could not be obtained.

Beanibazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abu Zafar Mohammad Mahfuzul Karim said, “I have heard that the matter has been resolved peacefully. However, I am not aware of the agreement that the competition will be held on August 28 under the condition that the boat race will not be organized from next year.”