‘Using deerskin in Soumya’s engagement is ceremonial ritual’

Using deerskin in the engagement ceremony of national cricketer Soumya Sarkar has created a controversy.

Some pictures showed that Soumya Sarkar was performing his engagement formalities sitting and standing on a deerskin that raised questions in social media.

Amid controversy, his family has claimed that it was an heirloom and had been in the family for years.

“We perform our religious and ceremonial rituals with the deerskin. It is an heirloom that was passed down from our ancestors and has belonged to the family for many years,” said Soumya's father Kishorimohon Sarkar, a retired district education officer. 

Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Satkhira Sadar Police Station, Soumya Sarkar is a national cricketer and a pride of the country. However, law is equal for all. But we knew that the deerskin is very old and it came from their ancestors.

Use of deerskin is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act of 2012.

Satkhira/Shaheen Golder/Mukul