BAGHA, RAJSHAHI, Mar 7: The 500-year-old traditional Eid Fair in Bagha has been leased under 15 conditions for Tk 12.7 lakh.
On Thursday, the lease for the 15-day fair was awarded to Shafiqul Islam, a member of the District Jubo Dal, in a ceremony presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shammi Akter.
According to sources, 76 local traders participated in the lease bidding, each submitting a security deposit of Tk 10 lakh. Shafiqul Islam emerged as the highest bidder and secured the lease for the two-week fair.
The lease ceremony was held under the supervision of UNO Shammi Akter. Present at the event were Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Sabiha Sultana, Bagha Police Station OC Serajul Haque, Upazila Agriculture Officer Shafiullah Sultan, Assistant Custodian of Bagha Museum Dabir Hossain, Rais Khondakar Anarul Islam Dillin and his brother and former UP chairman Khondakar Monowarur Islam Mamun, BNP Upazila Convenor Fakrul Hasan Bablu, Bagha Municipal BNP President Kamal Hossain, General Secretary Tofikul Islam Tofi, former Upazila BNP President Professor Jahangir Hossain, General Secretary Saiful Islam, Upazila BNP Executive Committee members Mukleshur Rahman Mukul and Surujjaman, Upazila Jubo Dal leader Sale Ahmed Salam, and District Chatra Dal Convenor SM Salauddin Ahmed Shamim, among others.
Regarding the fair, UNO and Co-Vice President of the fair committee Shammi Akter said, the event is held to commemorate the Urs of Hazrat Shah Moazzem, also known as Shahdoula (R:) and his son Hazrat Abdul Hamid Danishmand (R:), as a centre of religious celebration and spiritual devotion.
The fair is organised during Eid-ul-Fitr on the Waqf estate, under 15 strict conditions to ensure no obscene or inappropriate activities occur. The environment will be kept neat and orderly, with police vigilance maintained at all times. Any untoward or immoral incident will be immediately addressed.
Dabir Hossain, Assistant Custodian of Bagha Museum, added that the spiritual site of Hazrat Shahdoula (R:) and his son Hazrat Abdul Hamid Danishmand (R:) is located about 50 kilometres southeast of Rajshahi City, near Bagha Shahi Mosque. The entrance to the shrine is to the left of the mosque's north gate.
Historically, around 500 years ago, five Islamic missionaries came from Baghdad and settled near the Padma River in what is now Bagha to propagate Islam. Through their character, charm, conduct, and spiritual influence, they attracted the local population to Islam. Since then, the Eid fair has been held annually for nearly five centuries in their memory.
The lease ensures the continuation of the fair under organized and safe conditions while preserving its centuries-old cultural and religious significance.
