Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year-1433, has been celebrated in all districts of the country including Khulna, Joypurhat, Meherpur, Naogaon, Narayanganj,and Pabna amid much festivity and enthusiasm on Tuesday.
The theme of this year's celebration was 'Unity in the New Year, Revival of Democracy'.
KHULNA: The Khulna District Administration organized a day-long programme featuring a New Year reception, Baishakhi procession, discussion meeting, prize distribution, traditional fair, and cultural function.
The theme of this year's Pahela Baishakh is 'Harmony of the New Year, Revival of Democracy'.
In the morning, a colourful Baishakhi procession started from the railway station premises and paraded through different city streets before ending at Shaheed Hadis Park.
Officials from government and non-government offices, members of socio-cultural organizations, teachers, students, and people from all walks of life participated in the procession.
Marking the occasion, a discussion meeting, cultural function, prize distribution, and a traditional fair were held at Shaheed Hadis Park.
Speaking on the occasion, Acting Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Nazmul Haque said, Pahela Baishakh is a universal festival and an integral part of the Bengali cultural heritage.
He noted that the New Year inspires people to forget past grievances and begin anew.
He further said that through fair and peaceful elections, the country has embarked on a democratic journey, expressing hope that a united effort would help build a beautiful and developed Bangladesh.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hoore Jannat presided over the event. Among others, Additional Divisional Commissioner (Development) Abu Sayeed Md. Monjur Alam, officials from various government and non-government offices, representatives of socio-cultural organizations, teachers, students, and people from different profession attended the occasion.
On the occasion, traditional Bengali food was served at district jail, hospitals and government children orphanage centres.
Cultural programmes were also arranged for children. Besides, prisoners showcased various handmade items, while the inmates staged cultural performances and drama.
All educational institutions in the district also celebrated the New Year in a festive atmosphere under their own arrangements.
A day-long traditional fair was held at Shaheed Hadis Park.
Similar programmes were also observed across upazilas in the district.
JOYPURHAT: On the occasion, the district administration organised a colourful Baisakhi procession that started from the Ramdeo Bajla Government High School grounds and ended at the Circuit House ground.
A two-day Baisakhi fair has started there where various items of traditional rural Bengal have been displayed.
A discussion meeting organised there was addressed by DC Al Mamun Mia, SP Meena Mahmuda, Zilla Parishad Administrator Masud Rana Pradhan, District BNP Convener Golzar Hossain, etc.
Various entrepreneurs are displaying their products at the fair. Joypurhat Government College, Women's College, school students, representatives of socio-cultural organisations and officials and employees of various government departments participated in the colourful rally. Finally, prize distribution and cultural programs were organised.
MEHERPUR: The Meherpur District Administration chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the day. In addition, several socio-cultural organizations, including the Jatiotabadi Sangstrik Sangstha (JSS), held separate cultural functions featuring performances by artistes from Dhaka.
To mark the occasion, a Baishakhi rally was brought out in the town, led by DC Shilpi Rani Roy. The rally started from the collectorate premises and ended at the city's Shahid Shamsuzzoha Park, located downtown.
After the rally, a discussion meeting was held, chaired by DC Shilpi Rani Roy. Distinguished guests included Ujjal Kumar Roy, Superintendent of Police; Javed Masud, Administrator of Zilla Parishad; and other prominent BNP leaders.
The meeting was followed by a lively cultural function that charmed the audience. A fair was also held, adding extra joy for visitors. Meherpur Municipality entertained visitors by serving puffed rice (muri) and jilapi-a traditional sweet-at the meeting venue, following Bengali custom.
Traditional Bengali foods were served to the inmates of the public orphanage and the district jail.
In the villages, people came out of their houses in the morning dressed in fine clothes, visiting relatives, friends, and neighbours and sharing sweets. They also visited historical sites such as the Amjhupi indigo house and the Mujibnagar Complex.
Following tradition, traders of various business establishments opened new books of accounts (halkhata) and entertained debtors and well-wishers with sweets.
Similar programmes were also held in Gangni and Mujibnagar upazilas.
NAOGAON: On the occasion, the district administration brought out a joyous procession from the city's ATM field on Tuesday at 9 am that circled the main roads of the city and ended on the BIAM Laboratory School and College premises.
Sadar Constituency MP Zahidul Islam Dhalu was the chief guest at the procession. DC Mohammad Saiful Islam, SP Mohammad Tariqul Islam, officials and employees of government and private offices, socio-cultural organisations, teachers and students of various educational institutions, and people from different classes and professions participated in the procession.
After the procession, New Year's songs, dances, and cultural programmes were performed on the BIAM Laboratory School and College premises. A folk fair was also organised there throughout the day.
NARAYANGANJ: On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Narayanganj Cultural Alliance and the New Year festival, flute playing, music, recitation, and dance were performed at the Central Shaheed Minar in Chashara of the city on Tuesday morning.
Later, a procession was brought out that paraded through various roads. In addition, the district administration, Narayanganj Fine Arts Institute, and various socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions separately organised various programmes including procession. People participated in the procession wearing traditional costumes and carrying placards of rural Bengal.
PABNA: On the occasion of the Bengali New Year-1433, a Baishakhi procession was taken out from the DC office in the morning under the auspices of the district administration.
The procession circled the main roads of the town and ended at Rafiqul Islam Babul Swadhinata Chattar. After the rally, the Baishakhi fair was inaugurated by a distinguished panel, including Square Group Director and Bir Muktijoddha Anjan Chowdhury Pintu, Pabna-5 constituency MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Pabna-2 constituency MP Selim Reza Habib, DC Aminul Islam, SP Anwar Zahid, Zilla Parishad Administrator and war-wounded valiant freedom fighter Zahurul Islam Bishu, along with various officials from different levels of the administration.
In addition to the district administration's programmes, a procession, the Square Ruchi Baishakhi Festival, a rural folk fair, and cultural programmes were organized by Square on the occasion of the day.
