Thousands gather for traditional boat race in Manikganj

Thousands of people flocked to the banks of the Kaliganga River in Manikganj on Saturday to enjoy a traditional boat race featuring 40 boats from several districts.

The race took place in the Beutha area as part of an initiative to preserve the country’s rural heritage and familiarise younger generations with the age-old tradition.

Teams from Manikganj, Pabna, Rajbari, Faridpur, Tangail and Thakurgaon joined the competition, which began at 2pm and covered a three-kilometre stretch of the river.

The boats competed in four traditional categories — Chhipa, Ghasi, Chhandi and Khelna.

The riverbanks were packed with spectators from the morning, while crowds also gathered on trawlers and speedboats to get a closer view of the races.

Food Minister Afroza Khanam attended the event as chief guest and praised the organisers for reviving the traditional sport. She said larger boat races would be arranged in the future with the sponsorship of the district BNP.

Winners in the different categories received refrigerators, televisions and microwave ovens, while the champions of each of the four categories were awarded motorcycles.