A 550-year-old traditional fair has begun at the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (R) in Bagerhat.

The fair officially started yesterday (March 17) after Fajr prayers and will continue till Saturday (March 19) evening.

The fair is organised at the shrine of Khan Jahan Ali (R) during the full moon of Bangla month Chaitra, said Fakir Sher Ali, the chief Khadem of the shrine.

He hoped that the fair would attract more than one lakh of visitors and followers from home and abroad, reports our Bagerhat correspondent.

"The fair officially started this morning. By this time, more than 50,000 people have gathered here," Fakir Ali said.

"As far as I have heard from my ancestors that the fair are being held for the last 550 years. The fair does not organised marking the death or birth day of Khan Jahan. Devotees used to gather here during the full moon of Chaitra, which gradually turns into a fair," the chief Khadem said.

Soon after the fair kicked off, a large number of people started gathering at the shrine and its adjacent area. Many of them go at the shrine with a hope that all of their desires will be fulfilled. Not only Muslims but followers of other religions also rush there.

On the occasion, different types of stalls has been set up.

Photo: Collected

In-charge of the tourist police (Bagerhat Zone) Mosharraf Hossain said that they are working round the clock to ensure the safety of the visitors and followers.

"We have hung our phone number on the wall and other nearby public places. We also have posted our contact number to the social media, including the Facebook. Our police members will reach the spot as soon as possible if anyone inform about any problem," the police official said.

Local volunteers are also working with the tourist police.

Md Jahidul sheikh, a resident of Gopalganj, said, "I along with my family came to the fair.  We will be staying here for the next three days. We came here to fulfill our mannat (vow to God) ".

Taliqual Molla of Jessore said, "Every year I come to see this traditional fair. The fair is very popular among the people. The fair wasn't held for the last two years due to the Corona situation.''