In line with the previous years, traditional boat race was held on Rupsha River in Khulna amid much festivities and enthusiasm on October 29. Nagar Samajik o Sanskritik Kendra (NSSK), Khulna arranged the boat race with the patronization of Grameenphone (GP). Over one hundred thousand people attended the 11th edition of the traditional boat race. It was the third time Grameenphone sponsored the festival.
The boat race has already turned into a meeting and greeting place for the people of this region. This trend has been continuing for the last 11 years. Centering on the boat race, a colorful rally 
was also arranged in the port and industrial city. The boat race was officially inaugurated at 2pm at 1 Customs Ghaat, and it ended at 5:30pm.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Nazmul Ahsan, Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nibash Chandra Majhi, Khulna District Council Administrator Sheikh Harun-ur Rashid, Additional DIG Habibur Rahman, DC (South) Molla Jahangir Hossain and Greater Khulna Unnayan Sagram Committee chairman, Ashraf-Uz-Zaman.
President of Nagar Samajik O Sangsriitik Kendra Molla Maruf Rashid, General Secretary Md. Maniruzzaman Rahim, Chief Advisor Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman and from Grameenphone Khulna Circle Head Mohammad Mollah Nafiz Imtiaz, Khulna Regional Head A. M. Sazzad Hossain and other participants were present there.
Grameenphone Khulna Circle Head, Khulna Regional Head A. M. Sazzad Hossain said, “Grameenphone has always been a patron of the culture and heritage of Bangladesh. Grameenphone thinks culture and heritage have a big role in the development of a nation. Being a development partner of this country, Grameenphone has always extended its support to this kind of arrangements.”
President of NSSK, Mollah Maruf Rashid said, “We have working for a long time with the slogan that ‘If the rivers live, the country will live’. That is why we have been arranging this traditional boat race for the last 11 years. The spontaneous response of the people of Khulna inspires us to arrange this race every year.”
This time, 28 teams from Koyra, Paikgachha, Terokhada, Kalia, Narail, Gopalganj, Madaripur and Faridpur participated in the race. The teams were divided into two categories based on the size of the boats. Nineteen teams participated in the big boat category, while nine teams in small boat category.
Magistrate Mashiur Rahman, Nizamur Rahman Lalu, Md. Mainul Hasan Shimul, Mina Azizur Rahman, Shikdar Abdul Khalek and SKM Tasaduzzaman were in the jury board.
In the big boat category, Sundarban Tiger from Koyra, Khulna won a prize money of 100,000 taka securing the first position, while Bhai Bahi Jolpori from Terokhada, Khulna won 60,000 taka as the 1st runner up team. The prize money for the 2nd runner up, 30,000 taka, went to team Allah Bhorosha from same place, Terokhada, Khulna.
In the small boat category, Sonar Tori from Koyra, Khiulna won 50,000 taka as the champion, while the 1st runner up team Joy Ma Kali from Tala Satkhira won 30,000 taka. Team Joy Ma from Paikgacha. Khulna won 20,000 taka as the 2nd runner up.
Prizes were handed over to the winners at the prize giving ceremony held at Rupsha Ghaat. The ceremony was followed by a cultural program. Singer Kornia, Khulna’s Khude Gaanraj Ratul, and other local performers participated in the event.
The entire arrangement was successfully completed with the supervision and assistance of Khulna City Corporation, Khulna District Administration, Khulna Metropolitan Police, RAB, Naval Police, Bangladesh Navy, Fire Service and Civil Defense, Department of Forestq, Bangladesh Coastguard, Ansar and VDP, BIWTA, Roads and Highways Department, Department of Electricity, and Trawler Owners’ Association of Khulna.
NSSK and Grameenphone express their heartfelt gratitude to these organizations for the helping in the successful completion of the event.
About Grameenphone Ltd.
Grameenphone, part of the Telenor Group, is a leading telecommunications service provider in Bangladesh with more than 55 million subscribers. Since its inception in 1997, Grameenphone has built the largest cellular network in the country, covering nearly 99 percent of the country’s population. With its brand promise to enable customers to “Go beyond”, Grameenphone seeks to help customers get the full benefit of mobile data and voice services and provide Internet For All. Grameenphone is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange.
