43 years since Juri River boat race tragedy
Forty-three years have passed since a festive boat race on the Juri River turned into a tragedy, as a crowded bridge collapsed, killing five people and leaving several others missing.
The incident, which occurred on August 21, 1983, continues to haunt local residents, while the victims’ families are still demanding a memorial at the site and the declaration of August 21 as a local day of mourning.
According to victims’ families, local residents and eyewitnesses, boat races were organised annually on the swift-flowing Juri River and its tributary, the Kontinala River, near Kaminiganj Bazar in Jaifarnagar Union under Kulaura Police Station, now Juri Upazila, in Moulvibazar district.
Colourful boats, decorated in the traditional Mayurpankhi (peacock-shaped) style, would arrive from different areas to take part in the competition. Thousands of people from across the then Kulaura subdivision would gather along the riverbanks to watch the races, creating a festive atmosphere.
Fakhr Uddin and Rajab Ali of Bhogtera village, along with several local organisers, used to arrange the boat race every year. Continuing the tradition, Rajab Uddin organised the competition on his own on Sunday, August 21, 1983.
Three boats had completed the final race, while both banks of the river had become crowded with spectators for nearly two kilometres. The iron bridge, built during the British era on the Juri-Phultala road over the Kontinala River, was in a dilapidated condition at the time. Repair work was underway and traffic had been officially closed.
Despite the risks, many spectators gathered on the bridge to get a better view of the race.
At around 5pm, the final race began. Suddenly, with a deafening crash, the bridge collapsed, plunging the people standing on it into the river.
Panic and cries for help spread through the area. Bystanders immediately joined the rescue operation. Using boats, banana-trunk rafts and bamboo rafts, locals rescued numerous people, including children, youths and elderly spectators, and took them to local doctors and Kulaura Hospital for treatment.
Many people, however, remained missing. Later, bodies were recovered from the river and Hakaluki Haor near Kaminiganj.
The five confirmed dead were Sahidul Islam Faisal, 11, son of market trader Akkel Ali; Moyna Miah, 11, son of Tamchir Ali of West Bhabanipur; Salam Miah, 22, son of Maulana Chan Miah of Bhogtera village; Tajul Islam, 15, son of Chitu Gazi of Bhabanipur; and Misbah Uddin, 11, son of Mosabbir Ali of Bhabaniganj Bazar.
Several others also went missing, including Mokhlish Miah, 25, of Kashinagar village in Sagarnal Union. Due to the lack of adequate rescue technology and equipment at the time, many people trapped beneath the collapsed bridge could not be recovered.
Former commander of the Upazila Freedom Fighter Command and retired primary school teacher freedom fighter Kulesh Chandra Chanda Montu said, “I brought many children down from the bridge about 10 minutes before it collapsed. Otherwise, the number of deaths and missing people would have been even higher.”
He said the tragedy should not be forgotten and supported the demand for a memorial at the site.
Monjura-Alom Lal, former president of the Juri Upazila Press Club, said a proposal to erect a memorial honouring those killed, injured or missing in the bridge collapse had been placed before Haji Masum Reza, chairman of Juri Sadar Jaifarnagar Union Parishad.
Following the tragedy, the organisers came under severe public criticism and were mockingly dubbed “Rajab-er Gojob” (Rajab’s Calamity). A much-anticipated boat race had turned into a devastating tragedy.
Forty-three years later, the incident remains deeply etched in the memories of local people. No boat race has been held on the Juri River since the tragedy, but the memory of that horrific day has not faded.
Khairul Islam Phul, brother of deceased Sahidul Islam Faisal, and Abdul Matlib, brother of deceased Moyna Miah, have demanded that a memorial be built at the site to commemorate those killed and missing in the bridge collapse. They also called for August 21 to be declared a local day of mourning so that future generations can learn about the tragedy.
Eyewitnesses Selim Ahmad and Abul Kalam Gedu recalled that the bridge, along with the people standing on it, disappeared into the river in the blink of an eye.
War-wounded freedom fighter Abdus Shahid Chowdhury expressed solidarity with the demands. He said financial assistance had been provided to the families of three of the deceased at the time following an application submitted to the Sylhet District Commissioner’s Office.
According to Monjura-Alom Lal, the union parishad chairman assured them that a memorial would be constructed at a suitable location near the site.
The victims’ families and local residents now hope the authorities will take steps to fulfil the long-standing demands and preserve the memory of the tragedy for future generations.
