Police foil Boisabi rally in Khagrachhari

The indigenous people in Khagchhari have been prevented by law enforcers from holding a rally celebrating the Boisabi festival in the district. Ayprashi Marma, vice-president of the Boisabi Utsab Udjapan Committee, said police and army personnel prevented the rally and took away the banner forcibly when the indigenous people came out to celebrate their traditional festival from the Manikchhari College Gate area around 10am on Tuesday. Abdur Rakib, officer-in-charge of Khagrachhari police station, said police had prevented the rally as they tried to organise under a political banner without permission for doing so. The Utsab Udjapan Committee in the district has organised a five-day programme to mark Boisabi, which will begin in the morning on April 12 with the performing of Mongol Shobhajatra. The word Boisabi is an amalgamation of the Bengali acronyms for various indigenous festivals- namely Boishu of the Tripuras, Sangrai of the Marmas, Sankran of the Mros, Sangran of the Kyangs, Sankrai of the Khumis,  Bizu of the Chakmas, and Bishu of the Tanchangyas. The Boisabi festival is an important part of our heritage, as the indigenous people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts have long used it to celebrate their culture. The indigenous people of the area are currently busy shopping for traditional attire, preparing food, cleaning their houses, and inviting relatives and friends from in and outside of the hills to their biggest festival.