Century-Old ‘Hait Utshob’ Revived at Bolla Beel: Traditional Fishing Festival Draws Thousands in Nandail
As the dawn broke yesterday (Thursday), the upazila of Nandail in Mymensingh came alive with energy. Thousands of people, armed with traditional fishing gear like ‘polo’ (fishing pots), nets, and other equipment, gathered along the banks of the historic Bolla Beel in Sadar Union for a day of communal fishing and festivity.
This age-old community event, known locally as ‘Hait Utshob’ (Fishing Festival), is a tradition that has been maintained in the Bolla Beel area for nearly a century.
An Annual Tradition of Joy and Unity
The ‘Hait Utshob’ is customarily organized by locals towards the end of the Bengali month of Ashvin or during Kartik, when the water level in the beel (wetland) and surrounding canals drops to knee or waist height.
• Community Planning: The date of the festival is fixed in advance—often a week before—and widely promoted locally and through social media platforms like Facebook, ensuring maximum participation.
• The Gathering: Eager fishers often arrive the night before, staying at relatives’ homes near Bolla Beel. After Fazr prayers on Thursday, thousands of passionate anglers descended on the beel with their traditional gear, including polo, thela jal (push nets), kharajal, duba phand (traps), and chai (fish traps).
A Thrilling Day, But With a Catch
The sight was exhilarating: fishers joyously waded into the waters, creating a spectacle of communal effort. Crowds of men and women from surrounding areas lined the banks to watch. Participants came not only from Nandail but also from adjacent upazilas like Ishwarganj, Tarail, Hossenpur, and Kendua.
However, despite the massive turnout, many fishers were left disappointed with their meager catch.
The Concern: Local fishing enthusiasts complained that the main reason for the low yield was the illegal use of prohibited current and net fishing gear in the beel prior to the festival, severely depleting the fish stock.
Rakibul Hassan Shuvo, a participant from Ishwarganj, expressed his disappointment: “I didn’t catch much fish at the Hait Utshob. But I enjoyed the fun of fishing in the beel with everyone else.”
Moazzempur resident, Md. Billal Mia, lamented: “The glamour of the ‘Hait Utshob’ is not what it used to be. Elders in some regions still organize this to uphold rural tradition, but participants couldn’t catch much fish.”
Despite the low catch, the tradition remains important. Local resident Riaz Uddin emphasized the cultural value: “Our forefathers have been beautifully organizing this ‘Hait Utshob’ at Bolla Beel for almost 100 years. It’s a vital piece of our heritage.”
