S M Mizanur Rahman :Esho hey Baishakh. Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year 1422, will be celebrated across the country today (Tuesday) with due traditional fervour, festivities and fanfare.The sunset on Monday marked the end of the year 1421. The New Year heralds today after the three months lingering shadow of political unrest and violence.Different socio-cultural organisations and government institutions have chalked out elaborate programmes highlighting the significance of the day. They will hold cultural functions, street-side Baishakhi Mela and bring out colourful marches in the capital as well as other parts of the country to welcome the Bangla New Year. Millions of Bangla speaking people around the world, including a large number of Bangladeshi expatriates, will welcome the Pahela Baishakh, in a bid to uphold the rich cultural heritage of the country through rallies, cultural functions and Baishakhi Mela. Bangladesh missions abroad will organise separate programmes to mark the day.The day is a public holiday. President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the day welcoming the Bangla New Year and conveying their greetings to the countrymen. BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Raushan Ershad also gave similar messages on the occasion.With the horrifying memories of the 2001 Ramna Batamul carnage still haunting the minds of the people, unprecedented security measures have been taken in the capital to ensure peaceful celebration of the Pahela Baishakh. Thousands of law enforcers have already been deployed at different sensitive spots to maintain peace today.The Bangla year was introduced during the rule of Moghul Emperor Akbar to facilitate tax collection. In keeping with the tradition, traders and shopkeepers will open ‘halkhata’ (fresh accounts book) and offer sweets to their clients and visitors. Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private television channels will broadcast special programmes to mark the day. Newspapers will also publish special supplements. The students of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University will bring out a procession today. The programmes of the day will begin in the city with the musical soiree of Chhayanaut, a leading cultural organization of the country, at Ramna Batamul at dawn.While the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University will bring out a colourful procession today, Chhayanaut artistes will open the function with Tagore’s famous song — Esho Hey Baishakh Esho Esho — welcoming Baishakh. Noted artistes will also render solo and chorus songs at the function.Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private TV channels will also telecast live programme of “Chhayanaut”.City people celebrate this day by wearing traditional Bangali dress and by eating fried Hilsa fish with rice soaked in water. They will enjoy the numerous cultural programmes arranged throughout the city and will also join the rallies and cultural functions which are organized on the Dhaka University campus, Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Rabindra Sarobor at Dhanmondi and other places.Local administrations will organise different programmes, including discussions, cultural functions and “Rural Baishakhi Mela” at all the upazilas and divisional cities across the country.Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will organise three-day function while Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangla Academy, the Department of Public Library, Bangladesh National Museum, Dhaka University, cultural institutes of the different indigenous people will organise similar programmes.Bangladesh Lok and Karu Shilpa Foundation will organise traditional ‘Baishakhi Mela’ to celebrate the Pahela Baishakh.To mark the Bengali New Year, improved diet will be served at all the central jails, hospitals and orphanage centres.All museums will remain open today so that students and disabled children could visit there free of cost. All the educational institutions across the country will celebrate the Bengali New Year with their own arrangement.On the second day of the Bangla New Year, President M Abdul Hamid will accord a reception to the leading writers, poets, litterateurs, cultural personalities and dignitaries who have been honoured with the ‘Ekushey’ and ‘Independence’ awards at Bangabhaban. Another reports adds: Bangla Academy has programmed to mark the Bengali New Year 1422 today. At the Nazrul Stage of the academy, a musical Borshoboron program will be staged around 7:30 am in the morning. Besides, solo lecture ceremony, cultural events and poetry recitations will also take place on the Academy premises. The inaugural speech will be given by Shamsuzzaman Khan, Director General of Bangla Academy. Professor Emeritus, Rafique-ul-Islam will give a solo speech on the occasion. The program will be presided by Professor Emeritus, Anisuzzaman.Besides, Bangla Academy is arranging a 10 days long Baishakhi Handicrafts fair and cultural events to mark the Bengali New Year 1422, in joint collaboration with Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC).
