Towhidi Janata Protests Proposed Kushiyara River Boat Race
Protesters in Sylhet's Golapganj Upazila marched on Friday to demand the cancellation of a scheduled boat race. Demonstrators cited concerns over potential riverbank erosion and the use of obscene music.
A protest march and public rally were organized under the banner of 'Towhidi Janata' on Friday, September 18, 2020. The demonstration took place in the Mirganj market area, located within Golapganj Upazila in the Sylhet region.
The primary objective of the protest was to demand the immediate cancellation of a boat race. According to the schedules available at the time, this controversial boat race was slated to take place on the following day, Saturday, September 19, 2020.
The event was planned to be held on the Kushiyara River, a significant waterway in the area. However, the proposal to hold the boat race on this river sparked strong local opposition from the organizers and participants of the Friday rally.
During the protest march and subsequent rally, demonstrators voiced specific grievances regarding the upcoming water sports event. Protesters officially alleged that holding the boat race on the Kushiyara River could cause severe riverbank erosion.
In addition to environmental and structural concerns about the riverbanks, the demonstrators raised cultural and moral objections. Protesters stated that the planned boat race event involved the playing of obscene music, which further fueled their demands for its cancellation.
The demonstration brought together various local individuals and entities who united under the 'Towhidi Janata' banner to oppose the Saturday event. As of Friday, September 18, their collective demand centered strictly on halting the Kushiyara River boat race entirely.
