Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla calendar, was celebrated across the country on Friday amid traditional fanfare and merriment, with a vow to build a non-communal, happy, and prosperous country.
Different socio-cultural organisations and institutions in different districts arranged various programmes to mark the country's biggest cultural festival at the advent of the New Year.
People from all walks of life gathered at different popular and historic spots at dawn across the country to welcome the Bangla New Year 1424 with new hopes and aspirations.
KHULNA: Marking the day, Khulna district administration, different socio-cultural organisations and political parties organised day-long programmes to celebrate the auspicious event amid tight security measures.
In the morning, a big colourful rally was brought out from Shibbari Intersection and ended at Officers Club after parading main thoroughfares in the city.
Cultural programme and 'Panta Utsab' were held on Bakultola premises at Khulna deputy commissioner's residence in the morning.
A discussion on heritage and history of Bengali New Year was held at the Jatisangha Shishu Park followed by a cultural programme. A three-day 'Baishakhi Mela' also began at the same venue.
Khulna Shishu Academy celebrated Pahela Baishakh with the children on the day.
Khulna Central Jail and 'Shishu Paribar-3 (Children Orphanage-3) organised cultural programme, and different commodities made by the prisoners of the central jail, were exhibited as well.
The divisional Public Library authority arranged essay-competition for children and Islamic Foundation arranged discussion meeting.
All educational institutions including Khulna University (KU), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) welcomed the Bangla New Year with different colourful programmes.
Meanwhile, the city unit of Awami League brought out a 'Mangal Shobhajatra', held a discussion meeting, cultural programme and 'Panta Utsab' on the occasion.
BNP, Jatiya Party, Sammilito Sangskritik Jot, Khulna Union of Journalists (KUJ), among others, also celebrated Pahela Baishakh.
BARISAL: Different socio-cultural organisations organised various programme to mark the first day of Bangla New Year.
Barisal city people started with eating of 'panta vaat' with fried hilsa fish and chilli at different parts of the city.
Later, the district units of Udichi and Charukala separately brought out 'Mangal Shobhajatra' (procession of good wishes) in the morning as a part of the carnival which paraded from BM School ground to Barisal city college ground. The district administration also brought out Mangal Shovajatra.
The district press club arranged a painting competition for children; the district Bar Association arranged a day-long cultural programme in front of Bar Association building.
Gana Shilpi Sangstha, Khealy Group Theatre, Shabdaboly Group Theatre, Barisal Natok also chalked out different programmes to mark the day.
Bengali Department of Barisal University also arranged different programmes on the day.
It was for first time that all educational institutions in the district also chalked out various programmes to mark the Pahela Baishakh. Besides, a three-day long Baishakhi Mela also began at BM School ground arranged by Udichi, Barisal Unit, and Planet World Children Park authority also arranged three-day long Baishakhi Mela.
RAJBARI: The district town wore festive look as a huge number of people irrespective of caste, creed and religion welcomed Pahela Baishakh with a vow to eliminate evil forces through nurturing cultural heritage in line with the true spirit of the War of Liberation.
The day-long programme included rally, discussion, traditional sports like Ha-Du-Du, horse race, snake dance, art and song competition, poem recitation and honouring the special persons.
The day's main programme was organised by the district administration.
A discussion was held on Amrokanon premises with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Zinnat Ara in the chair.
It was addressed, among others, by Kazi Keramot Ali, MP, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Khan, and Additional District Magistrate Manawer Hossain Mollah.
Bakultola cultural organisation and Rajbari Academy jointly organised different programmes in front Adarsha Mohila College premises.
Different socio-cultural organisations with festoons, placards joined the Mangal Shobhajatra that paraded different roads in the town.
MEHERPUR: The district dwellers celebrated the Pahela Baishakh with much enthusiasm.
The district administration chalked out daylong different programmes to observe the day.
People of all ages, wearing traditional dresses, carrying festoons, placards, banners, and singing "Esho Hey Baishakh Esho Esho" participated in Mangal Shobhajatra to welcome the 'Bangla Nababarsha'.
The rally led by Farhad Hossain, MP, and DC Parimal Singha, was brought out as the part of the celebration of Pahela Baishakh that paraded different areas, from Shahid Shamsuzzoha Park to Collectorate Building premises.
After termination of the rally, a cultural function was held in front of the collectorate building where Farhad Hossain, MP, witnessed the cultural function as chief guest.
People from all walks of life enjoyed the cultural function.
Zila Parishad, Meherpur Pourosova and some other organizations arranged 'Panta Utsab' (Stale Rice Festival). Improved diets were served to the inmates of public orphanage and jail.
Traditional sports like Lathi Khela, Kabadi were held at local stadium and a cultural function was also held in the jail, where prisoners performed. Besides, a painting competition was held at Zila Shishu Academy on the occasion.
Traders and shopkeepers across the district opened 'Halkhata'.
Gangni and Mujibnagar upazila administrations also observed the day in a befitting manner. The people of many villages also celebrated the Pahela Baishakh with a festive mood.
KISHOREGANJ: The day was celebrated in the district with different programmes amid much enthusiasm and festivity.
Marking the day 'Mangal Shobhajatra' was brought out from Old Stadium Premises in the morning.
District administration, different socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions participated in the rally that ended on Biam Laboratories School premises after parading the main roads in the town.
District administration arranged 'Pantha Bhat' festival on Biam Laboratories School premises. A seven-day long 'Baishakhi Mela' begins on Kishoreganj Old Stadium ground.
PABNA: Various socio-cultural organisations and different political parties organised elaborate programmes to celebrate the day.
The district administration brought out 'Mangal Shobhajatra' from Pabna town hall premises and paraded the main roads of the town.
People in the district town and other upazilas gathered in their respective cultural hubs to take part in the celebrations and attend fairs.
People in rural areas observed the day visiting fairs and folk performances and exchanging pleasantries. Traders in rural areas and also in small towns open new ledgers settling the accounts of the year gone by.
As a part of the local cultural programme for long tradition "Hajra Khela" was performed here.
KHAGRACHHARI: The people of four communities including three ethnic communities have celebrated 'Boishabi' at different spots under nine upazilas in the district on Friday.
Bengali people celebrated the day as the first day of Baishakh while Tripura ethnic people have celebrated it as the first day of 'Boishu', Marma people celebrated it as the first day of 'Sangraing' and Chakma community people celebrated it as the first day of 'Bizu'.
Boishabi, a word comprising with 'Boi' from Boishakh of Bengali and Boishu of Tripura, 'sa' from Sangraing of Marma and 'bi' from Bizu of Chakma ethnic community in Khagrachhari hill district.
To celebrate the first day of the New Year, both Bengali and ethnic people woke up early on the day and cleaned both living and prayer houses and decorated those with flowers, leaves and foliages and took bath in the river, aiming to be blessed by removing all sins and frustrations of immediate past year.
The people also wore new traditional dress hoping to pass happy and prosperous life during the next one year.
District administration, Marma Unnayan Sangsad, Bangladesh Marma Sanghathan Oikya Parishad and many other socio-cultural organisations brought out a colourful rally in the morning at 8.00am and paraded main roads in the hill town, aiming to establish a peaceful environment and maintain a communal harmony in the area.
Wearing traditional dresses, thousands of people including visitors participated in the rally and performed at many traditional events.
Local Lawmaker Kujendra Lal Tripura, Khagrachhari Army Regional Commander Brigadier General Mir Musfiqur Rahman PSC, DC Md Rashedul Islam, SP Ali Ahmed Khan, Sadar Upazila Chairman Chunchumoni Chakma, joined the rally.
Later, Khagrachhari Army Region organised a three day-long 'Baishakhi Mela' on their premises in the hill town. The fair was inaugurated by local Lawmaker Kujendra Lal Tripura.
Tripura people gathered at Milonpur and performed traditional dance 'Garaiya' to welcome 'Boishu', first day of their calendar. They also arranged three-day long programme and performed traditional sports to welcome the New Year.
Marma people thronged Pankhaiya Para and Mohila College area and played their traditional sports like Dha, Alari and Water Festival and rendered some traditional songs and performed dances welcoming Sangraing, the first day of the New Year.
Chakma people thronged Swanirbor Bazaar in the hill town and played their traditional sports. They had also offered delicious traditional foods to their relatives and guests.
PANCHAGARH: Marking the day, district administration and other socio-cultural organisations including some NGOs organised several programmes.
The programmes included bringing out Mangal Shobhajatra, eating of panta vaat with fried hilsa fish and chilli, discussion meeting, staging drama, arrangement of Baishakhi Mela, kite flying and cultural function.
In the morning, a big colourful rally led by DC Amal Krishna Mandol was brought out from Karotoa Adarsha Sikkha Neketon and ended at the same venue after parading the main roads of Panchagarh town to welcome the Bangla New Year.
Police supper Giasuddin Ahmed, district and upazila level officials, cultural personalities, social workers, businessmen carrying banners, festoons, traditional handicrafts, household utensils, fishing instruments, beating drums and playing musical instruments participated in the procession singing 'Esho Hey Baishakh Esho Esho'.
Later, a discussion meeting was also held at the stage of Karotoa Adarsha Sikkha Neketon premises.
The programme was followed by a cheerful cultural function. The artists of Zila Shilpakala Academy rendered songs like Palli Geeti, Jarigan, Vatiali, Vaoyaiya, Baul, Lalon Geeti, Nazrul Geeti, Rabindra Sangeet and folk songs and also performed dance in the function.
Improved diets were also served to the inmates of jail and the Govt. Shishu Paribars marking the day.
Similar programmes were also held at all upazila headquarters in the district.
NOAKHALI: Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year, was in the district amid traditional festivities in line with the century-old non-communal spirit of the Bangalees.
Noakhali Healthcare organised the New Year celebration programme.
The programme was attended by former Principal of Noakhali Govt College Kazi Rafique Ullah as chief guest and Convener of Noakhali Healthcare Abdul Wadud Bahar as special guest.
Among others, advocate Faruque, AKM Mashidullah, Zahirul Haque, Zonayed, advocate Azizul Haque Bakshi and journalist Multanur Rahman Manna were present there.
NARSINGDI: Pahela Baishakh was celebrated here in the district with much enthusiasm.
The district wore festive look as thousands of people irrespective of caste, creed and religion welcomed 'Pahela Baishakh' with a vow to eliminate evil forces through nurturing cultural heritage in line with the true spirit of the War of Liberation.
The district administration brought out 'Mangal Shobhajatra' from Sadar upazila premises that ended in front of Old Town Hall after parading the main roads in the town.
DC Dr Shuvas Chandra Biswas, SP Amena Begum BPM and different government high officials led the rally.
Thousands of people, wearing traditional dresses, carrying festoons, placards, banners, and singing "Esho Hey Boishakh Esho Esho" also participated in the rally to welcome the 'Bangla Nababarsha'.
Later, a cultural function was held on Sadar upazila parishad premises.
On the other hand, the district unit of Awami League also brought 'Mangal Shobhajatra'.
A seven-day long Baishakhi Fair began at Arshinagar in the town.
MUNSHIGANJ: Marking the day, a Baishakhi procession led by DC Shaila Farzana was brought out from DC's office premises that paraded main thoroughfares in the town.
The day's cultural programme included rendering pala gaan, jari gaan, shari gaan and folk song and poem recitation. Mrittika, a literary and cultural organisation, arranged the programme.
PIROJPUR: 'Bangla Nababarsha' was celebrated in the district in a festive manner.
Marking the day, a colourful Baishakhi procession was brought out from district Shilpakala academy that ended on the Govt Boys' School premises after parading the main roads in the town.
Public representatives, govt high officials, cultural personalities, teachers and students and common people took part in the procession.
A meeting was held there with ADC (General) Kazi Tofayel Hossain in the chair, while DC Md Khairul Alam Sheikh attended the meeting as chief guest.
SP Md Walied Hossain and Sadar Upazila Chairman Alhaj Mujibur Rahman Khaleque were present as the special guests.
Among others, secretary of district Shilpakala Academy Ziaul Ahsan Gazi, Joint Secretary of district unit of Awami League Aktaruzzaman Fulu spoke on the occasion.
Later on, a seven-day long 'Baishakhi began on the same premises.
A huge number of people of all ages, wearing traditional dresses joined the procession and visited the fair.
Policemen were deployed for ensuring security during the celebration.
FENI: Marking the day, district administration and other socio-cultural organisations chalked out elaborate programmes.
The programmes included bringing out Mangal Shobhajatra, eating panta vaat with fried hilsa fish and chilli, discussion meeting, staging drama, and arrangement of Baishakhi Mela and cultural function.
In the morning, a Baishakhi procession was brought out from Feni Govt Pilot High School ground that ended on the premises of PTI School after parading the main roads in the town. Later, a cultural function was held there.
Jahan Ara Begum, MP, inaugurated a seven-day long 'Baishakhi Fair' there as well.
MADARIPUR: To mark the day, district administration, different socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions organised different programmes including discussion meetings, bringing out of colourful rallies with traditional rural items and cultural shows.
The main Baishakhi procession led by Acting DC Biswas Md Rasel Hossain was brought out from the Shadinota Angon premises in the morning.
LAXMIPUR: The 'Pahela Baishakh' was also welcomed through various programmes including bringing out Mangal Shobhajatra and cultural function in the district.
Marking the day, the district administration brought out Mangal Shobhajatra from Collectorate Building premises that ended on Adarsha Samad High School premises after parading main roads in the town.
Later, a discussion meeting was held with the participation of DC Md Zillur Rahman Chowdhury, SP ASM Mahatab Uddin, Chief Executive Officer of Zila Parishad Shahidul Islam Khokon, and President of district Awami League Golam Faruque Pinku.
