HUNDREDS of oarsman are set to make waves when they descend on Oxfordshire for the third annual Bangla-deshi Boat Race.

Teams from across Britain will make their way to Farmoor Reservoir on Sunday Septemer 26, with competitors coming from Keighley in Yorkshire, Torquay, Birmingham, London, Cheltenham, Swindon and London for the event.

An explosion of interest in the event has seen the number of teams taking part nearly double in three years.

The event has been publicised on the Asian satellite TV station Channel S, which broadcast the draw for the race heats earlier this year across Britain and Europe.

In the first tournament there were 168 people competing in 14 teams, but this year there will be more than 300 rowers and reserves taking part in 24 teams.

Restaurateur Aziz Ur-Rahman founded the race with the help of Peter Travis, chairman of Donnington Bridge-based Oxford Falcons rowing club in 2008.

He said: “It’s much bigger this year. We have a media partner in Bangladesh and it will be better publicised.

“We are expecting a big crowd so we moved it to Farmoor Reservoir from the Thames, otherwise some people wouldn’t be able to view the race from start to finish.

“If there’s a lot of rain on the river, there’s also a chance the boat races might not go ahead, because of safety. Boating used to be one of the biggest sporting occasions in Bangladesh during monsoon season.”

Mr Ur-Rahman, who moved to Oxford in 1969 from the Bangladeshi region of Sylhet, added: “Something we started in Oxford in 2000 as a national competition is growing and growing, and there’s so much interest.”

Teams will take part in three colourful, specially made 48ft-long boats, with all 12 rowers wearing ‘longee’ – traditional headbands and T-shirts.

Bozlur Rashid, 51, manages the Oxford Bengal Tigers boating team.

Mr Rashid, of Nye Bevan Close, in Cowley, said: “Boating is a very respected and popular event in Bangladesh.

“We are really excited.

“This year should be our year. We’re very keen to keep the trophy in Oxford and we’re hoping to give the best teams a run for their money.”

Rumel Rahman, from Cumnor, has formed a mixed crew of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis for the East Oxford boating team.

The 20-year-old team captain said: “The boat race isn’t just about men of a certain age; it’s about reaching out to different communities and age groups.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from or how old you are – you’re invited to get involved in the event and have a great time.”

He added: “I’m quite confident my team will win this year.”

  • For more details, see nowkabais.co.uk