Century-old boat race festival on at Bagha

RAJSHAHI, Oct 9:  A three-day festival featuring a century-old traditional boat race has begun in Bagha of Rajshahi, drawing thousands of people to the banks of the Padma River.

SM Salahuddin Ahmed Shamim Sarkar, Convener of the Rajshahi District unit of Jatiyatabadi Chatra Dal, inaugurated the festival on Thursday at the Bengari Padma River ghat in Gargari Union.

The prize-giving ceremony for the winners of the boat race will be held later, with Rajshahi-6 MP Abu Said Chand scheduled to distribute the prizes.

Organised by the century-old Gargari Boat Race Festival Committee, the event is being held on the banks of the Padma River near Bengari Bazaar. The winner of the main boat race will receive Tk 1 lakh in prize money.

The competition is being held along a nearly three-kilometre stretch of the Padma, from Khayerhat Halim Master Ghat to Bengari Bazaar Ghat in Gargari Union.

The festival features several traditional competitions, including races involving shallow-engine boats, large-oar boats and small-oar boats. Horse racing, cultural programmes and other entertainment events are also being held as part of the three-day festival.