116th Jabbarer Boli Khela to take place on Friday

The 116th edition of Jabbar's Boli Khela, a traditional wrestling competition, will be held at Laldighi Square in Chattogram on Friday (25 April).

The event will be accompanied by a three-day Baishakhi Fair from 24–26 April. Although police have advised against setting up stalls along the main road from Anderkilla to the Court Building this year, to avoid congestion.

The announcement was made at a press conference today (22 April) at the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) auditorium. Shaukat Anwar Badal, grandson of the event's founder Abdul Jabbar Saudagar and member secretary of the organising committee, shared the details.

The main competition will be inaugurated by Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz, while Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain will hand over prizes to the winning wrestlers. Officials from Grameenphone, the event's sponsor, will attend as special guests.

In a written statement, organisers said a full-fledged committee representing various professions in Chattogram would be formed for research on Abdul Jabbar Saudagar, a key figure in the anti-British movement.

The committee will also work to rename Laldighi Square after him, establish an academy for Boli Khela, seek the Independence Award in his name, and pursue UNESCO recognition for the event.

Grameenphone's Chattogram Central Region Head Mohammad Morshed Ahmed said, "Grameenphone is proud to be a part of a traditional and popular event like Jabbar's Boli Khela. We have sponsored this event before. We respect local traditions and are committed to supporting such cultural heritage."

Others, including Hafizur Rahman, convener and chief judge of the Boli Khela organising committee, also spoke at the press conference.

Abdul Jabbar Saudagar introduced the Boli Khela on 12th Baishakh in 1909 to physically train youth for the anti-colonial movement. That tradition continues, with the fair and wrestling match drawing large crowds from Chattogram and surrounding districts.

Though originally held for three days, the Baishakhi Fair often extends to six or seven days. Spanning several kilometres around the Laldighi ground, the fair hosts over 2,500 stalls selling household goods, flutes, toys, jewellery, and local food.