Miscreants' bomb silences the fanfare

No fanfare this year ...Stalls are yet to be erected at the Gur Pukur fair venue at Palashpole in Satkhira town. The photo was taken on Thursday. Photo: Star

This question is being posed by many as nothing except some makeshift tea stalls were seen on the fair venue till Friday, two days ahead of its scheduled beginning.

The 300 year-old big fair, beginning on the last day of the Bangla month of Bhadra, used to attract thousands of traders and lakhs of visitors from all over the country.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

But traders are yet to arrive this year.

The authorities have not given permission for puppet show, circus, jatra, lottery and such other entertaining events this year for security reasons as three persons were killed and at least 100 injured when miscreants blasted two powerful bombs at a circus show and a cinema hall last year. The blasts had dispersed the fair in hours.

One year after the incident, police failed to find any clue or nab the culprits involved in the bomb blasts.

Traders used to flock to the fair venue at least 15 days ahead of the scheduled beginning date. The fair lasted for about a month.

Two cases were filed with Satkhira thana, and were later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigation.

ASP Moula Box and Inspector Sukha Ranjan Samaddar of CID were made investigation officers. But they are yet to find any clue and arrest the culprits.

This year, the authorities have given permission for the fair from September 15 to October 2.

The Gur Pukur Mela began 300 years ago, marking the worship of Hindu goddess Manasha, the godless of snake.