A colourful boat race was held on the River Kirtonkhola flowing by the side of the Barisal city Monday afternoon.
The Barisal City Corporation organised the programme titled ‘Mayor Nouka Baich’ to popularise traditional sports, culture and amusement and save river, water ways, water bodies from siltation and extinction.
The five-kilometre race started at Shahid Abdur Rab Serniabad Bridge at Dapdapia at 3:30pm and ended at Charkawa Ferry Ghat at 4:00pm.
The Barisal mayor, Shawkat Hossain Hiron, as chief guest of the programme said the city corporation would continue to patronise the traditional sports of the country.
Eighteen racing teams from Barisal, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Faridpur, Pirojpur participated in the competition.
The mayor distributed Tk 20,000 and a 14-inch colour television set as first prize, Tk 15,000 and a 14-inch colour TV as 2nd prize and Tk 10,000 and a 14-inch colour TV as 3rd prize among the winning teams.
Hundreds of people including high officials of district and division and police administration, local government representatives enjoyed the race.
Two of the racing boats capsized but no causality took place, the organisers said.
