Boli Khela (or Bali Khela) (Bengali: বলি খেলা) is a traditional form of wrestling in Bangladesh, particularly popular in the Chittagong area. Boli means a powerful person in Bengali, while Khela denotes a game. It is particularly played in the month of Chaitra (March-April in the Bangla Calendar).[1]
A modernized form of the game gained popularity in the early 19th century under the sponsorship of Abdul Jabbar Saodagar, who saw it as a way of countering British rule. Other notable players and organizers include Abul Fazal of Chittagong University, AK Khan, and Khwaja Abdul Ghani.[1]