‘Towhidi Janata’ demands halt to traditional boat race in Sylhet

A group using the banner “Towhidi Janata” has called for a traditional boat race on the Sunai River in Sylhet’s Beanibazar to be cancelled, setting up a dispute with organisers who say the event will go ahead on Aug 28.

Police, meanwhile, say no race will be allowed without permission from the district administration.

Beanibazar Police chief Abu Zafar Mohammad Mahfuzul Karim said officers had been informed that two sides had emerged over the event.

“We have made it clear that no boat race will be held without permission from the district administration,” he said.

The annual competition is organised by young people from Lauta-Bahadurpur in Lauta Union and has been held for many years.

This year, however, several people identifying themselves as “Towhidi Janata” -- a loosely organised Islamist movement that rallies under the banner of Islamic monotheism to defend what they perceive as religious values -- have been posting on Facebook calling for the race to be stopped.

A meeting was also held at Barigram Bazar Mosque on Thursday under the banner “Towhidi Janata Lauta Union”, where participants demanded cancellation of the event.

A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the race had long been a regular attraction but warned that the recent opposition could create tension in the area.

Another resident said hundreds of people attend the boat race each year and criticised those campaigning against it.

Lauta Union Parishad Chairman Delwar Hossain said arguments for and against the event had been playing out on Facebook.

“I have heard about attempts to stop it, but neither side has approached me,” he said. “The boat race is held quite regularly.”

Organising committee General Secretary Aminul Islam said preparations were continuing and insisted the event would take place as planned.

“We held a meeting yesterday [Friday] and have another one this evening,” he said. “The boat race is going ahead.”