Hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered along the banks of the Kaliganga River in Manikganj on Saturday as a traditional boat race brought colour and excitement to the district. The main attraction was ‘Mayer Doa’, a khella-class racing boat from Roumari in Kurigram, which claimed the championship title after travelling hundreds of kilometres by river to take part in the competition.

The event was held on Saturday afternoon near Beutha Ghat in Manikganj town, organised by the Manikganj district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). A total of 22 boats competed across four categories, attracting participants from different parts of Manikganj as well as Roumari in Kurigram, Nagarpur in Tangail and Santhia in Pabna.

The competition featured several traditional types of racing boats, including khella-goyita, ghasi-chipa, chandi and panshi. Two additional rafts, made from banana trees and measuring 70 and 80 cubits in length, also took part, adding another element to the day’s programme.

In the khella boat category, ‘Mayer Doa’ from Roumari upazila of Kurigram secured first place and received a 100cc motorcycle. ‘Ma-Babar Doa’, representing Nagarpur in Tangail, finished as runner-up and was awarded a refrigerator with a capacity of 16 cubic feet.

The ghasi boat category produced joint champions. ‘Baimail Express’ and ‘Kalam Sikdar Express’, both from Singair upazila of Manikganj, shared the title and each received a 100cc motorcycle.

In the chandi category, ‘Gayan Bari’ from Harirampur upazila of Manikganj won the championship and received an electric motorcycle. ‘Bhai Bhai Enterprise’ from Ghior upazila finished second and was awarded a 16-cubic-foot refrigerator.

The panshi category was won by ‘Jagir Janata Express’ from Manikganj Sadar, which received an electric motorcycle. ‘Azam Brothers’ from Santhia in Pabna took second place and received a 16-cubic-foot refrigerator.

Prizes were also arranged for other participants. Five competing boats received refrigerators with a capacity of 11 cubic feet, while representatives of another seven boats were given eight-cubic-foot refrigerators. Boats and individuals taking part in a ‘dress as you like’ segment were rewarded with televisions, pressure cookers and rice cookers.

Food Minister and Manikganj-3 MP Afrozа Khanam Rita, who is also convener of the district BNP, attended as the chief guest and distributed prizes among the winners and participants. Manikganj-1 MP SA Jinnah Kabir, Deputy Commissioner Nazmun Ara Sultana, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sarwar Alam, boat race organising committee convener Advocate A T M Zaheer Alam Khan Lodi and member-secretary Masud Parvez were also present. Senior leaders of the district BNP and its affiliated organisations attended the event.

Although the competition featured boats from several districts, ‘Mayer Doa’ drew particular attention. The boat comes from Baguarchar village in Bandaber Union, Roumari upazila, Kurigram. Its journey to Manikganj was itself a considerable undertaking.

Mujibur Rahman, director of ‘Mayer Doa’, said the boat set off from Baguarchar on the morning of 30 September. Travelling along the Brahmaputra and through several other rivers, the team took three days to reach Beutha Ghat on the Kaliganga.

He said the boat was built from sal wood at a cost of around Tk600,000, with construction taking approximately a year. Saturday’s competition was its first boat race. The team was delighted not only with the victory but also with the arrangements for the event, he added.

The riverside crowds reflected the enduring appeal of traditional boat racing in Bangladesh. People travelled from different upazilas of Manikganj and neighbouring districts to watch the contest. With limited space available along the banks, spectators gathered wherever they could find a suitable place, watching from both sitting and standing positions.

A rural fair was also organised alongside the race, bringing additional activity to the area. The combination of traditional boats, competitive rowing, prizes and the fair turned the riverbank into a festive gathering.

Boat racing has long been part of the cultural life of Bangladesh’s riverine communities. The competitions showcase the strength, coordination and rowing skills of boat crews, while offering an occasion for people from different villages and districts to come together. Saturday’s event on the Kaliganga provided a reminder of that tradition, with Kurigram’s ‘Mayer Doa’ taking home the top prize on its first appearance in a race.