117th Jabberer Boli Khela today

CHATTOGRAM, Apr 24: The 117th 'Jabberer Boli Khela' (wrestling competition) will be held at Laldighi ground today (April 25, Boishakh 12).
The historic and traditional popular sports event will pass its 117 years this year. The first competition of the wrestlers of Chattogram and adjoining areas was held in 1909.
The Boli Khela will be inaugurated by Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali. Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain will be the chief guest, and handover the prizes to the winners. Abu Sufian, Member of Parliament for Chittagong-9 constituency, will be the special guest at the function.
In observance of the 'Boli Khela' a three-daylong 'Boishakhi Mela' (folk fair) began on Friday (April 24). Hundreds of stalls of handicrafts, toys, household essentials, pottery, and sweetmeats and cakes have been set up in the area.
Wrestlers (boli) from different areas of the district, particularly from the coastal areas of Ukhiya, Tecknaf, Chakoria and off-shore islands of Moheskhali, Kutubdia in Cox's Bazar and the coastal areas of Banshkhali, Anowara and Satkania in Chattogram, from the three hill districts, and other neighbouring districts of Feni, Noakhali, Comilla and Chandpur will participate in the wrestling competition.
CMP has taken special measures for ensuring security of the thousands of people who will come to the event. The roads from Anderkillah to Kotowali point and Hajrat Bodor Shah Majar and Hajrat Amanat Shah Majar to Chattogram Central Shahid Minar point are closed. The mobile teams of police are patrolling the area.
A committee, led by Hafijur Rahman and Swakat Anwar Badol, president and general secretary of the Abdul Jabber Smrity Boli Khela and Kusti (Wrestling) Competition Committee, has been formed. Hafijur Rahman hoped that at least 150 wrestlers (boli) will take part in the event this year.
The leaders requested all to help the authority and law-enforcing agencies to keep the law and order situation sound during the event. They also requested the businessmen and wrestlers to contact the committee or law-enforcing agencies in this regard.
The CCC mayor said, "Following the demands of the Chattogram people, we have named the point as Abdul Jabber Smrity Chattar to remember the historic memories."
Earlier, local merchant Abdul Jabber Sawdagor of Andorkilla Badorpati Road of the port-city introduced this competition in 1909. The extension and popularity of the competition spread over the whole region in course of time. Since its introduction the wrestling is being held on the 12th Boishakh every year.
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