Thakurgaon residents join in fishing festival

Hundreds of village people gathered at Burir Bandh in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila on Saturday to take part in an annual fishing festival, a long-standing local tradition that marks the beginning of winter.

However, many participants expressed disappointment over the declining fish catch compared with previous years.

The Shuk River flows between Akcha and Chilarang unions in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila.

At Burir Bandh, located on this river, residents of Thakurgaon are immersed in a festive fishing celebration.

At the beginning of winter, fishing at Burir Bandh is opened to the public.

For years, this traditional gathering has taken place in the Burir Bandh area around the start of the winter season.

On Friday night, all five gates of Burir Bandh were opened. As the water level dropped, thousands of people, including fishermen from nearby villages and visitors from different parts of the district, began fishing at dawn on Saturday. However, many were disappointed this year, as the catch was smaller than in previous years.

A visit to the site revealed that thousands of people from villages and towns had gathered at Burir Bandh in the Akcha and Chilarang areas to catch fish. The participants included men, women, children, and elderly people.

They entered the water carrying fishing nets, polo (traditional cone-shaped fishing traps), spears, and other fishing equipment.

Those without fishing gear also waded into the muddy water and tried to catch fish with their bare hands. In addition, fishing enthusiasts arrived with various types of equipment, including fine-mesh nets, lafi nets.