Cultural activists on Sunday celebrated Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali year 1431, breaking the time limit for Bengali new year celebrations announced by the government.
The government earlier announced that all events centring Pahela Baishakh, including those at Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University, Hatirjheel and Rabindra Sarobar in Bangladesh capital Dhaka must conclude by 6:00pm.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi organised a cultural programme at Shahbagh from 6:00pm to 7:00pm and Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, an umbrella platform of different cultural organisations, organised a programme at the Central Shaheed Minar from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.
State minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat on Monday said that it was unfortunate that Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi organised programme beyond the time limit.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi protested against the comment of the state minister on Monday.
In a statement, jointly issued by Udichi vice-president Mahmud Selim and general secretary Amit Ranjan Dey, the organisation said that organising protest programmes was the constitutional right of the people and the organisation has exercised its constitutional right by organising the programme in protest of the time limit announced by the government on Pahela Baishakh celebration, which is the largest secular festival of the country.
Udichi central committee vice-president Habbiul Alam presided over the programme at Shahbagh titled 鈥楤arshabaran Mane Na Shringkhal鈥� on Sunday.
Udichi artistes staged a play on the current situation of the country. After that, Habibul Alam, Harekrishna Debnath and Sajeda Begum rendered songs at the programme.
The programme by Sammilita Sangskritik Jote was inaugurated by Ramendu Majumdar at 4:00 pm. The event featured music show, recitation and a street play titled 鈥楧hup-Atorer Pala鈥� written and directed by Asma Akter Liza.
Different cultural organisations and educational institutions in the capital organised various programmes, including traditional music performances, recitations, colourful processions, dance recitals from morning till 6:00pm to usher in Bengali year 1431.
The programmes featured songs and street performances, among others, which began at 6:00pm.
Chhayanaut, Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University, Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi, Khelaghar Dhaka Mahanagar, Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Ritu Udjapan Parishad in association with Geetanjali Lalitkala Academy, Amader Pathshala, Dania Sangskritik Jote and others organised diverse events at different venues in the capital marking the day.
Cultural organisation Chhayanaut lifted the curtain on Pahela Baishakh celebration programme with an instrumental performance of Ahir Bhairab raga by flautist Murtaza Kabir Murad at Ramna Batamul at 6:15am.
Chhayanaut鈥檚 two-hour programme with the slogan 鈥楧ur Koro Attokendrikota, Apni Jalo Ei To Alo鈥� featured solo and group songs, recitations along with speeches.
Dhaka University fine arts faculty brought out traditional Mangal Shobhajatra, a colourful procession, with the slogan 鈥楢mra To Timirbinashi鈥�.
This year鈥檚 procession featured five structures depicting a child, a pangolin, a decorative elephant, a decorative wheel and a bird.
The procession, which began on the FFA premises, moved towards Shahbagh intersection, made a U-turn after reaching Dhaka Club and ended in front of the Teacher-Student Centre.
Mangal Shobhajatra was inscribed on UNESCO鈥檚 Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi welcomed the day by organising a programme in front of Shishu Park in Shahbagh area at about 7:30am. The programme featured songs, recitations, dance recitals, discussions and others.
Thespian Mamunur Rashid was present as the chief guest at the programme.
Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi president Suraiya Alamgir presided over the event, which was moderated by the organisation鈥檚 vice-president Fakir Siraj.
They along with Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste Rathindranath Roy inaugurated the programme by releasing balloons.
Khelaghar Dhaka Mahanagar organised a cultural programme comprising songs, recitations, dance recitals at the Swoparjita Swadhinata Chatwar on the DU premises.
Bangla Academy organised a discussion and cultural programme at its Rabindra Chatwar while Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organised a cultural programme at its National Music And Dance Centre Auditorium.
Students of Amader Pathshala brought out a colourful procession on its premises in Mirpur and organised a cultural show at the school.
Dania Sangskritik Jote with the support of Dania College brought out a colourful procession on the college premises and organised a cultural programme comprising folk and traditional songs, among others marking the day.
Ritu Udjapan Parishad in association with Geetanjali Lalitkala Academy organised a daylong cultural programme at the Bangabandhu Mukta Mancha in Uttara.
Kabi Nazrul Institute, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Aligali Halkhatay 鈥� a citizen鈥檚 initiative and others organised programmes in the capital marking the day.
Besides, cultural organisations organised programmes in Barishal, Chattogram, Pabna and other parts of the country to usher in 1431.