The 116th edition of Jabbar's Balikhela is being held on April 25.

This event, which is intertwined with the history, tradition and culture of Chittagong, was started by Abdul Jabbar Saudagar, a prominent businessman from the city's former Badarpati area. Over time, it came to be known as 'Jabbar's Ball Game' after his name.

Over time, this event has become a tradition. Along with locals, renowned wrestlers from remote areas of the country participate in this game.

Following the tradition of the beginning, this game is organized every year on 12th Baishakh of the Bengali year. The Baisakhi Mela is held from 11th to 13th Baishakh focusing on the game.

This time too, the Chittagong Metropolitan Police, City Corporation and the Mela Committee have taken various initiatives to organize this game and Baisakhi Mela smoothly.

The main ring for the Balikhel will be set up at Laldighi Maidan. Stalls for the Baisakhi Fair will be set up from the city's Kotwali Thana intersection to Andarkilla intersection, Cinema Palace intersection to the west, and Jail Road (Badarpati) to the east.

Starting from children's dolls and toys, all the products necessary for daily life are available at this fair.

The main ring for the Balikhel will be set up at Laldighi Maidan. Stalls for the Baisakhi Fair will be set up from the city's Kotwali Thana intersection to Andarkilla intersection, Cinema Palace intersection to the west, and Jail Road (Badarpati) to the east.

Last year, the winner of the 115th edition of the Bali Khela was 'Bagha Sharif', a resident of Homna area of Comilla district. He defeated Rashed Bali of Comilla Sadar to become the champion.

Organizers say that 150 Bali players have already registered to participate in this year's competition.

Shawkat Anwar Badal, general secretary of the Bali Khel and Mela Committee and grandson of Abdul Jabbar Saudagar, told the Daily Star, "Various initiatives have been taken to successfully complete this three-day colorful event. The work of constructing a temporary ring at the Laldighi ground will begin from April 20."

Shawkat Anwar further said, 'We have been organizing this traditional game of three men's Chittagong since 1909. In between, the game was not played for two years due to the Corona pandemic.'

Chittagong's traditional Abdul Jabbar's Balikhela will be held on Friday, April 25. This time, the 116th edition of Jabbar's Balikhela will be held at the historic Laldighi Ground. On the occasion of the Balikhela, a three-day Baisakhi fair will be held from April 24 at the Laldighi Ground and the surrounding four square kilometer area.

This traditional Balikhela is held every year on 12th Baishakh. Abdul Jabbar Saudagar of Bakshirhat introduced this Balikhela in 1909. He started wrestling or Balikhela at Laldighi ground to motivate the youth and youth in the anti-British movement. Since then, Balikhela has been held every year on the 12th of the month of Baishakh. Over time, this Balikhela has become a symbol of the region's heritage. It has taken the form of a fair of life.

The fair committee held a meeting with senior officials of the Chittagong City Police (CMP) on Wednesday to organize the country's much-discussed Jabbar Balli Khela and Baisakhi Fair smoothly. The meeting was held at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) of the city police. In the meeting, the police suggested that fair stalls not be set up on the main road from Andarkilla to the courthouse to facilitate smooth movement of people and vehicles. At the same time, it was informed that the administration will take a strict stance against the sale of stalls, encroachment, and extortion surrounding the fair.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner of City Police (South) Mohammad Alamgir Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan Mamun, Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali) Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station Mohammad Abdul Karim, Shawkat Anwar, general secretary of the fair committee and grandson of the late Abdul Jabbar Sawdagar, chief referee of the Balikhela Hafizur Rahman, former councilor Ismail Hossain, journalist Chowdhury Farid, fair committee member and organizer Ali Hasan, among others.

It is worth noting that Balikhela was not held for two years in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic and for two years during World War II. Apart from that, Balikhela has been held continuously.