Odommo Chattagram
Sampan Baich paddles Ctg vibe
Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Abdus Salam hands over a refrigerator to “Karnaphuli Sampan Chalok Somobay Samity Ltd” team which came up first at The Daily Star Odommo Chattagram Sampan Baich competition (boat race) yesterday.Photo: STAR
The cheering of thousands of spectators lining the banks of Karnaphuli river from the South Ghat to Firingi Bazar Bridge Ghat was deafening yesterday as 15 Sampans (small boats) prepared to outrun each other. With the sun gleaming through the clouds after a spell of rain, each vividly coloured Sampan with a nine-member crew dressed in red and yellow took off with the whistle at 3:00pm, just between the high and low tides. The “Sampan Baich” (boat race), traditionally known as “Baisa Khela”, an event being held as part of The Daily Star's 12-day “Odommo Chattagram” (Indomitable Chittagong) festival, had begun. The 850 metre adrenaline-packed dash of the 12-by-5 feet Sampans lasted for around 10 minutes and the drummers ecstatically beat their traditional drums to receive the first three boats. The “Karnaphuli Sampan Chalok Somobay Samity Limited” team led by Hazi Moinuddin Bokul, which came up first, won a refrigerator. The first and second runner-up teams, “Wahed Ali Shah” guided by Saber Saudagor and “Sujan Majhi” led by Sujan, won 21-inch and 14-inch colour televisions respectively. Transcom Electronics sponsored the prizes. The other teams were “Mukta Bihanga”, “Engij Islam Ahmed”, “Madrasa Para”, “Gaizer Ghat Khaza Committee”, “Futanta Golap”, “Tailen Group”, “Sutki Chan Bebsai”, “Rajur Baich”, “Shah Somi Uddin”, “Haj Kechi Baji”, “Ear Khan” and “Shah Amanat”. Prior to the prize distribution, a discussion and cultural event was held at Firingi Bazar Bridge Ghat. The atmosphere there resembled a fair with hundreds of visitors going through makeshift shops selling sweet and sour delicacies and wooden toys while others were enjoying a ride in a rickety merry-go-round. Addressing the discussion, the chief guest, Chittagong Development Authority Chairman Abdus Salam, said, “Chittagong can never be dominated. “Neither the British Raj nor the Pakistani occupational army could do so. I thank The Daily Star for choosing Odommo as the festival's title. It sounds appropriate for Chittagong.” In his speech, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said, “You (the attendees) are the inhabitants of Chittagong while I am its admirer. The best way to be friends with you is to know your opulent culture, tradition and lifestyle. “The Sampan Baich is such an initiative. We would like to bring back the past glory of Chittagong for the country's overall development.” Afterwards, Mohammad Yousuf from Patiya and Abdul Mannan from Anwara performed “kobigaan” (a light song in the form of question and answer). They were followed by Prem Sundar Vaishnab, son of Shyam Sundar Vaishnab, and Susmita who performed traditional folk songs and Talukder Halim who presented skits in Chittagong dialect. The Daily Star's Defence and Strategic Affairs Editor Brig Gen (retd) Shahedul Anam Khan, Resident Editor of Prothom Alo, Chittagong Abul Momen, Bureau Chief of The Daily Star, Chittagong Raisul Huq Bahar and Councillor Lutfannahar Dovas Baby were present.
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