Call to protect traditional rural sports from extinction

RANGPUR, Nov 2 (BSS): Terming rural sports as an important means of entertainment, speakers at a ceremony emphasised the need for protecting traditional rural sports from getting extinct.
There is no alternative to preserving traditional rural sports by popularising them among the young generations. Young generations and students should be encouraged to play more traditional sports, they said adding the traditional sports uphold our culture and heritage as Bengalis.
They were addressing the concluding ceremony of the Divisional Competition of Traditional Rural Sports-2014 organised by Divisional Sports Association with the assistance of National Sports Council at the Rangpur Stadium.
Earlier, Divisional Commissioner (additional secretary) Muhammad Dilwar Bakht inaugurated the competition at a ceremony.
With Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Narayan Chandra Barma in the chair, the Divisional Commissioner attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest.
Acting Deputy Inspector General for Rangpur Range Humayun Kabir, Additional Divisional Commissioner (revenue) Kazi Hassan Ahmed and General Secretary of Rangpur Divisional and District Sports Associations Advocate Anwarul Islam addressed as the special guests. Leaders of the District Sports Associations from Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Dinajpur districts under Rangpur division and noted sports personalities, among others, were present on the occasion.
Students of different educational institutions, youths and common people from all over the Rangpur division participated in 'ha-du-du', 'kanamachhi bhon bhon', 'biscuit race', 'climbing up to oily banana tree', 'cock fight', 'bau-chee', 'danriabandha', 'gollachhut' and other events.
The chief guest stressed on arranging frequent competitions of the traditional rural sports in the educational institutions and other places both in the urban, sub-urban and rural areas to save them from getting extinct.