The 115th edition of traditional wrestling championship “Jabbarer Boli Khela” has started in Chattogram city amid much enthusiasm and festivity to remind people of the rich culture and heritage of the port city.

Chattogram Jila Krira Sangstha General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin inaugurated the traditional wrestling competition by releasing balloons at around 4:30pm on Thursday.

Lawmaker ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony while NHT Sports Complex Managing Director Syed Mohammad Tansir was the special guest. Like in every year, a special “Boishakhi mela” started at the venue on Tuesday to boost appeal for the contest.

Mentionable, prominent local merchant Abdul Jabbar Sawdagar of the city's Badorpati area introduced the wrestling as a traditional event in 1909 (Bangla 1316). The aim was to organise and inspire the youths for anti-British movement.

It is said that the history of this event dates back to the Muslim and Arakani rules when aristocratic families, particularly landlords, used to employ healthy and strong wrestlers to counter their rivals.

There were 22 families of wrestlers hailing from 19 villages on the alluvial plain between the river Karnaphuli and Shankha in southern Chattogram district.

Apart from the greater Chattogram district, wrestlers from the then Burma also used to take part in the wrestling contest long before the partition of the British ruled sub-continent. To witness their local contestants, some two lakh Burmese people also used to come to Chattogram during the competition.

BDST: 2110 HRS, April 25, 2024
MSK