A tense situation is prevailing over holding of Victory Day celebration programmes by the rival groups at the same venue.

Rivalry has been marring the solemnity of traditional Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela (Victory Fair) in the port city of Chittagong for the last three years.

The trouble began in 2001 when Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad of Chittagong city, north and south district commands tied to the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) organised a victory festival evicting the then organisers on the Chittagong Outer Stadium premises.

Pro-government Chittagong city, north district and south district commands of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad under the banner of Muktijuddher Bijoy Utsab Udjapan Parishad are taking preparation to organise a 25-day Victory Festival titled "Muktijuddher Bijoy Utsab" at the venue from December 5.

On the other hand, opposition backed Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Parishad announced a month long fair titled "Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela" (Victory Fair) at the same venue beginning today (December 1).

"Mukjuddher Bijoy Mela" was celebrated in and around Chittagong Outer Stadium for 16 years until 2000 but the pro-government organisers took control of the venue in 2001.

Pro-Mela Parishad leaders termed holding of the Victory Festival "capture of the Victory Fair Venue and snatching of the fair" while the organisers of the Victory Festival described it as "restoration of Victory Festival" and reinstatement of real freedom fighters in organising the fair.

Bijoy Utsab Udjapan Parishad has already leased out the fair venue to a private firm to monitor the stall allotment process.

The lessee 'SA Syndicate' has set up some 220 stalls at the outer stadium. SA Syndicate Director Emdadul Aziz Chowdhury told this correspondent that traders already booked around 150 stalls at Tk13,000 to 60,000 each and special security measures would be taken in and around the fair valley to check any untoward incident. "Private security personnel will be deployed alongside a permanent police camp at the fair ground to face the hazards of visitors round the clock," he added.

A member of Bijoy Utsab Udjapan Parishad said that some Awami League leaders led by Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury took the leadership of the victory fair originally organised by eminent freedom fighters of the port city in 1989 and made money after politicising it.

"The freedom fighters could organise the fair for only two occasions upholding the true history of the War of Liberation before they were forced to step back as the platform was used for petty political interests in a heinous way," he added.

Meanwhile, Mohiuddin Chowdhury on Wednesday announced that a month long Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela would begin on December 1 on the Outer Stadium premises at any cost.

Abul Hashem, Secretary General of Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Parishad, told The Daily Star that they are determined to hold the fair as per the announcement of Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.

"Our Victory Day programmes will begin with a rally of real freedom fighters from Shaheed Minar this morning (December 1) and lighting the 'victory flame' at stadium area." "We will inaugurate the fair at the Outer Stadium evicting the occupiers," he added.