Ullapara Correspondent:

The local administration has imposed Section 144 and suspended a traditional boat race on the Karatoya River in Ullapara of Sirajganj, following escalating political tensions over conflicting schedules announced separately by local leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami.

For years, local residents have organized the traditional boat race at the Kaliganj Ghat on the Karatoya River in Panchakoshi Union.

Continuing the tradition, local BNP leaders initially declared September 7, 8, and 9 for the competition. Shortly after, local Jamaat leaders announced September 4 and 5 for the same event and began venue installation, sparking widespread tension. Both parties subsequently lodged formal complaints with the upazila administration.

Selim Reza, convener of the BNP-backed event committee and a former union parishad member, said they had planned the 17th edition of the competition from September 7 to 9 at Kaliganj Ghat. State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku was invited as the chief guest, with Jamaat leader and Sirajganj-4 (Ullapara) MP Rafiqul Islam Khan named as the special guest.

“Under these circumstances, Jamaat leader Zohurul Islam Penu abruptly set up a stage right next to ours and began preparations to hold the event on September 4 and 5 at the very same ghat,” Reza alleged. “One faction created this conflict specifically to disrupt this long-standing local tradition. However, as it is part of our local cultural heritage, it should not be canceled. We are trying to reach a mutual agreement to organize it together.”

Rejecting the allegations, Zohurul Islam Penu, general secretary of the Jamaat-backed event committee and secretary of Panchakoshi Union Jamaat, stated that their preparations for September 4 and 5 also included the Power Minister as chief guest and the local MP as special guest.

“However, State Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku is currently hospitalized due to illness and may not be able to attend,” Penu said. “Realizing this, the BNP side filed a complaint with the administration to halt our event.”

Repeated phone calls and text messages sent to Ullapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Raihanul Islam for comments went unanswered.

When contacted, Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam confirmed the administrative action. “We learned that both BNP and Jamaat separately organized boat races at the exact same location at Kaliganj Ghat. However, neither group sought official permission from the administration,” he said.

“Following counter-complaints from both sides, local police expressed concerns over potential law and order disruptions. Consequently, the upazila administration banned the competition and issued Section 144 in the Kaliganj Ghat area until further notice,” the Deputy Commissioner added.

Ullapara Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mehdi Hasan confirmed that the situation in the area currently remains calm. But it may take turn to another angle any time.