Boat Racing Storm on the Titas in Brahmanbaria.

M Badal Khandaker (District Correspondent), Brahmanbaria The traditional boat race competition-2026 was held in a festive atmosphere on the Titas River in Brahmanbaria. Organized by the Brahmanbaria District Administration on Saturday (September 12) afternoon, the event drew a huge crowd to both banks of the river. People of all ages gathered on both sides of the Titas from the morning to witness this age-old Bengali tradition. Competitors from nine upazilas of the district took part in the race with their boats. The sight of the competing boats racing across the Titas River created great enthusiasm among the spectators. During the competition, the entire area echoed with applause, cheers, and shouts from the crowds on both banks. With the sound of drums and the festive mood, the Titas River seemed to come alive. At the end of the day-long competition, the boat team from Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila won the championship. Prizes were also distributed among the teams that secured second and third places. The first-place boat team received 2 lakh taka, the second-place team 1.5 lakh taka, and the third-place team 1 lakh taka. Later, guests handed over trophies and prize money to the winning teams. There was widespread joy and excitement among the spectators when the winning Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila boat team received the award. The venue was filled with the cheers of the champion team members and their supporters. Engineer Khaled Hossain Mahbub Shyamal, Member of Parliament for Brahmanbaria-3 and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Commerce, attended as the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony. Special guests included District Council Administrator Sirajul Islam, Superintendent of Police Shah Md. Abdur Rouf, Members of Parliament Nadia Rahman Papon, Zahirul Haque Khokon, Ali Azam, Hafizur Rahman Molla Kochi, Mobarak Hossain, Asaduzzaman Shahin, and Brahmanbaria Municipal Administrator Shariful Islam, along with political, social, and administrative figures from various levels of the district. The event was presided over by Md. Absar, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria. Leaders and activists of various wings and associate organizations of the District BNP provided overall support to ensure the boat race was completed successfully and smoothly. Members of Brahmanbaria Red Crescent Society and social organizations such as Dheu, Nongor, Tari, and Oikyoboddho Brahmanbaria also took part in providing support. Law enforcement personnel played a key role in maintaining security and order during the boat race. Security was strengthened on the Titas River and along both banks. Fire service members were also on standby to deal with any kind of accident. With the coordinated cooperation of the administration, law enforcement agencies, and volunteer organizations, the competition concluded in a peaceful and festive environment. From morning, the number of people on both banks of the Titas River continued to grow. Some came with family, some with friends, and others came from far away to enjoy the boat race on the riverbank. With people of all ages, from children to the elderly, both banks of the Titas turned into a huge gathering. According to the organizers, boat racing is an important part of Bengal’s thousand-year-old folk culture and heritage. The event was organized to preserve this rural tradition in the age of modernity and to present the enduring culture of Bengal to the new generation. The festive atmosphere on both banks of the Titas River continued until evening after the day-long competition and prize distribution. The Brahmanbaria traditional boat race competition-2026 concluded with the enthusiasm of thousands of people, the fierce speed of the competing boats, and the joy of the winners.