A centuries-old traditional fair has started at the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali in Bagerhat.
It officially got underway on Thursday morning and will end on Saturday night. The fair had been cancelled for the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thousands of people from across the country had gathered on the shrine premises on the first day of the fair.
Al Amin Hawlader, who came from Munshiganj, said he comes every year with a big group to pay their respects to Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali.
Dhaka TribuneLocal resident Syed Obaidul Islam Babu said the number of visitors has increased a lot due to the fair being held after two years.
A group of people of the third gender were on the western side of the shrine. Their leader, Monalisa, said: “We love Khan Jahan Baba and come here every year. We have been feeling elated since arriving this year.”
Dhaka TribuneShrine chief Khadem Sher Ali Fakir said the fair has been held annually for nearly 600 years.Considering the large gathering, police have beefed up security measures to prevent any untoward incidents, said Inspector Mosharaf Hossain of Bagerhat Tourist Police.
“We have taken every precaution to ensure that the fair ends without any trouble,” he added.