Pahela Baishakh being celebrated amid Festivities

Pahela Baishakh, first day of Bangla New Year 1432

To mark the advent of the New Year, the government has arranged elaborate celebrations, and people from all walks of life are participating in colourful rallies, musical performances, fairs, and traditional festivities—dressed in vibrant Bengali attire and filled with renewed spirit.
In Dhaka, the heart of the celebrations beats at Dhaka University, where the iconic New Year rally—previously known as Mangal Shobhajatra—has been officially renamed Barshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra. The new name was unveiled during a press briefing at the Faculty of Fine Arts on Friday.

This year’s theme, "Noboborshe Oikotaan, Fascibader Obosaan" (Harmony in the New Year, End of Fascism), was finalised in a meeting chaired by DU Vice-Chancellor Dr Neaz Ahmed on 24 March, reflecting the rally’s deeper call for unity and resistance against oppression.

Renowned cultural institution Chhayanaut is once again welcoming the New Year at Ramna Batamul with its 58th annual celebration. Themed "Amar Mukti Aloy Aloy" (My Liberation in Light), the early morning event began at dawn with a stirring performance of Raag Bhairavi. The two-hour programme features 24 performances—including nine group songs, 12 solo pieces, and three poetry recitations—and is being broadcast live on Chhayanaut’s YouTube and Facebook pages, as well as Bangladesh Television (BTV).

On the eve of the celebrations, Nobel Laureate and Chief Adviser of the Sampriti Bhaban initiative, Professor Muhammad Yunus, extended his greetings, highlighting Bangladesh’s enduring harmony. “Tomorrow, the first day of Baishakh, symbolises this unity. People are celebrating in their own way, honouring their customs and traditions,” he said at the foundation-laying ceremony of Sampriti Bhaban at the Dhaka International Buddhist Monastery.
He further emphasised that the country’s diverse communities—Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and ethnic groups—form a single, harmonious family enriched by shared language, heritage, and cultural traditions.

Adding to the nationwide spirit, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir extended heartfelt greetings. Tarique expressed hope that the New Year would inspire aspirations and a collective drive for progress. “May the warmth of Baishakh wipe away falsehood, injustice, and unrest,” he said. Mirza Fakhrul echoed these sentiments, calling the celebration a symbol of national unity and renewal.
Across the country, educational institutions and cultural organisations are hosting rallies, fairs, and performances. In rural areas, the business community is observing the age-old tradition of Halkhata—opening new account books and offering sweets to customers as a gesture of goodwill.
The day is being observed as a public holiday. National dailies have published colourful supplements, and both Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar are broadcasting special programming that highlights the rich cultural and historical significance of the occasion.
To ensure safe and peaceful celebrations, security measures have been intensified across the country. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Shahidur Rahman confirmed the deployment of special forces, mobile courts, and intelligence surveillance, particularly to prevent harassment of women and ensure no extremist elements disrupt the festivities.
As the day unfolds, Pahela Baishakh continues to unite the people of Bangladesh in joy, tradition, and the collective hope for a brighter, more harmonious year ahead.