A total 30 boat racing teams from across the country battled for supremacy on Rupsha River, during the 13th Khulna Boat Race held yesterday.
The event was organized by Khulna Nagar Samajik and Sanskriti Kendra in collaboration with Grameenphone. The Khulna City Corporation (KCC) served as the supervisor of the competition, which has been running for five years.
The race was broadcast live on the Facebook page of Grameenphone.
At yesterday’s event, the boats were divided into three categories depending on size. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each category were awarded cash prizes.
Ten teams competed in the large boat category, while nine took part in the small boat category. The racers hailed from Koyra, Pikegacha, Terkhada, Kaliya, and Norail.
A further 11 teams competed in a special category for Bachari boats, with racers from Gopalganj, Madaripur, and Faridpur.
Sundarban Tiger from Koyra won 1st place in the large boat category, and were awarded Tk1 lakh. Bhai Bhai Jolpori from Terokhada finished in 2nd and were awarded Tk60,000, while Allah Bhorosha from the same area finished 3rd and were awarded Tk30,000.
In the small boat category, Team Bhai Bhai Duronta from Paikgachha finished 1st and were awarded Tk50,000. The 2nd place finishers, Team Sonar Tori from Koyra, were awarded Tk30,000, while 3rd place finishers Team Duranta from Paikgacha won Tk20,000.
Folia Enterprise from Sonadanga won 1st place in the special category, and were awarded Tk50,000. Sonar Tori from Kotalipara finished in 2nd place and won Tk30,000, while Ma Babar Ashirbad from the same area finished in 3rd and won Tk20,000.
Prior to the competition, a colourful rally was organized in the morning. KCC Mayor Alhaj Talukder inaugurated the rally, while Grameenphone Head of Khulna Circle Md Awlad Hossain, Khulna Nagar Samajik and Sanskriti Kendra President Mollah Maruf Rashid, and General Secretary Md Moniruzzaman Rahim were also present.
Addressing the rally, Md Awlad Hossain said: “Grameenphone has always been the patron of the culture and heritage of Bangladesh. Grameenphone thinks that there is a great deal of culture and tradition in the development of a country. As a partner in the development of Bangladesh, Grameenphone has always extended its cooperation to such events.”
The judges of the competition were Bangladesh Employee Welfare Board Director Billal Hossain Khan, KCC Veterinary Surgeon Dr Rezaul Karim, Brihottor Khulna Unnoyon Sangram Committee Vice President Nizam Ur Rahman Lalu, and Md Motaleb Hossain Miah, Sadakhali, District Sports Association, Khulna.
