Traditional horse race held in Panchagarh

A traditional horse race was held at Shaldaga village under Debiganj upazila in Panchagarh on Tuesday afternoon.
Thousands of people from the adjacent Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Nilphamari districts came to view the event at the field of Dulijhari Girls High School in Shaldanga union under Debigonj upazila in Panchagarh.
The competition had 29 participants from Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Nilphamari districts.
Of the participants 12 were selected for the final round after primary selection.
In the final competition Abdur Rahim, a student of Class-IX of Islambag village, Panchagarh won the first prize, the second prize was wrested by Asraful Islam of Panga village, Nilphamari and the third prize winner was Mohammad Ali Tulu of Chandanbari village, Panchagarh.
The first prize winner took home a 24-inch colour television, the second prize was a 14 inch colour television and the third prize winner bagged a 10-inch colour television.
A delighted Abdur Rahim, who secured the first prize told this correspondent that he has been riding horses from class-IV as he used to look his maternal uncle's horse.
The Upazila Chairman of Debigonj Abdul Maleq Chisti was chief guest at the programme.
The local Hathath Committee organised the event.
The president of the Hathath Committee Kamruzzaman Chowdhury told The Daily Star that the annual event held on December 18, sought to promote an old village tradition. “We began the competition here on December 18, 2004. The participants in the competition increase every year. Last year 24 participants took part in the race,” he added.