Pahela Baishakh is celebrated every year on April 14 amid festivities and much enthusiasm. But this year, the programme was cancelled to avoid mass gatherings in a bid to curb the transmission of coronavirus. However, the television channels will air a programme to digitally celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla calendar. The programme of the Cultural Affairs Ministry will be broadcast by all channels from 8:30am on Tuesday, the Ministry said in a statement on Monday. Since Ramadan will start in ten days or more we can celebrate Pahela Baishakh in a unique way this year. Instead of indulging in our personal vanities by wearing colourful clothing and eating traditional dishes and listening to musical soirees we can indulge another aspect of our soul. Every single nation is being ravaged by the pandemic–Bangladesh is no exception to that. We can celebrate Pahela Baishakh this year by indulging in charity.
We can donate medical supplies to our healthcare workers if they need them, we can feed stray dogs and cats and other animals–as some of our noble citizens are already doing even though they incur the wrath of mindless local leaders. We can protest at the abuse of welfare goods misappropriated by errant and criminal local political leaders who are stealing goods earmarked for the poor. We can forgive (or at least reduce) debts or rents owed us by our tenants or debtors. As factory owners or other business owners we can try to ensure that our workers are paid on time as it is the lowest socio-economic classes which are undergoing the most hardship. These citizens can’t beg, borrow, or steal, but have to live on meager funds. As a nation this is a time for us to come forward and rely on ourselves.
We must realize that — instead of splashing ourselves in colours this is the perfect time for us to show our true colours. We must stand united, for this time too shall pass.
