Pahela Baishakh celebrated in districts

Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year-1430, was celebrated in different districts on Friday across the country with huge festivity, fanfare and enthusiasm, reports BSS.

In Rajshahi, Pahela Baishakh was celebrated in the city and its adjacent areas with a festive mood and enthusiasm like other parts of the country.

Children, youths, men, women and activists of the socio-cultural, voluntary and professional organisations wearing traditional dresses came out on the streets after sunrise to welcome the Bengali New Year.

Besides, hundreds of men, women and children, in traditional colourful clothes, thronged Rajshahi College playground, Fudkipara open stage, Shishu Academy, Riverview Collect-orate School playground and other venues especially the bank of the river Padma for celebrations of the occasion.

The programmes of the day heralded the city by inaugurating a colourful "Mongol Shobhajatra" on Shilpakala Academy premises. Rajshahi district administration arranged the rally.

After parading some of the city streets, the rally ended at the same venue where a discussion and cultural function programme were formally opened.

Divisional Commissioner GSM Jafarullah, Deputy Inspector General of Police Abdul Baten, RMP Commissioner Anisur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed and Superintendent of Police Masud Hossain were present in the opening programme.

Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) arranged a daylong programme.

In Mymensingh, Pahela Boishak was celebrated in the district in a befitting manner.

The district administration has taken various programmes to celebrate the day.

State Minister for Public Works Sharif Ahamed, MP, formally inaugurated the colourful Shobhajatra as the chief guest at Mukul Niketon.

DIG of Police Mymensingh Range Deb Das Bhattacharya, Deputy Commissioner Mustafizer Rahman, officials, leaders of different political social and cultural organisations joined the Mongal Shobhajatra.

After parading the Station Road, Ganginar Par, Notun Bazar, Town Hall corner the procession ended at Boishakhi Manch at Shilpacharya Joynal Abedin Park, where State Minister Sharif Ahamed, MP, and the Deputy Commissioner exchanged New Year greetings with the officials, cultural leaders, activists and common people.

In Khulna, 'Pahela Baishakh was celebrated in Khulna city with much enthusiasm, fanfare and festivity.

Khulna district administration, different socio-cultural and political organisations celebrated the day through various programmes. Khulna district administration began the day with a colourful' Mongol Shovajatra' (procession) that started from Khulna Railway Station and ended on the Shilpokola Academy premises.

Hundreds of people led by KCC Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque joined the procession on Friday.

Afterwards, a discussion about the heritage and history of Bengali New Year was held at the Shilpakala Academy followed by a cultural programme and prize- distribution ceremony.

Later, KCC Mayor distributed tabs -- among 390 meritorious students of Class 9 and Class-10 who secured first, second and third position in the last academic result -- as gift from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In Nilphamari, to mark the day, a colourful 'Mangal Shobhajatra' was brought out which paraded different streets in Nilphamari town.

Folklore fair and a cultural programme were also held in the town on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh. District administration organised the programmes.

In Kushtia, Pahela Baishakh was also celebrated in Kushtia by organising Mongol Shobhajatra, drawing competition among children and presenting Bengalis traditions, cultural programme and a discussion.

The Shobhajatra kicked off at Deputy Commissioner Intersection and paraded main road in the town. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sidul Islam chaired a discussion marking the day.

In Joypurhat, Pahela Baishakh was celebrated in the district with enthusiasm. To mark the day a colourful procession, kicked off at Ramdeo Bajla Govt High School Field, parading various streets in Joypurhat town.

The procession ended up at Collectorate Chattor. Students from different school and colleges and cultural figures took part in the procession.

Deputy Commissioner Salehin Tanvir Gazi, Zila Parishad Chairman Principal Khaja Samsul Alam, Additional Police Super A K M Mamun Khan Chisti, cultural personality Aminul Haque Babaul and Additional Deputy Commissioner Mahiuddin Jahangir took part in a discussion on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh among others. Pahela Baishakh was also celebrated in Bogura, Shariatpur, Natore, Gazipur, Meherpur, Cumilla, Sylhet and Habiganj.