All-inclusive Pahela Baishakh celebration with Chaitra Sankranti this time: Faruki

This year, Bangladesh is set to embrace an “all-inclusive" celebration of the Bengali New Year alongside Chaitra Sankranti, a traditional festival marking the end of spring and the arrival of summer. 

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Faruki expressed his hope for this historic initiative during a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in Dhaka on Wednesday (April 9).  

At the heart of the government’s vision are two key objectives: cultural healing and cultural inclusiveness. 

Speaking at the briefing, Faruki emphasised the deep divisions that have long plagued Bangladeshi society, creating rifts, mistrust, and suspicion between different groups.  

"We have been divided for a long time," he said. "As a result, distance, suspicion, and mistrust have grown between communities. But the work of healing has already begun."  

For the first time in Bangladesh’s 54 years of independence, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy hosted an event celebrating Chand Raat, the night before Eid, under the moonlit sky – a symbolic gesture of unity. 

This initiative will not remain confined to Dhaka; it will soon expand nationwide. Cultural programmes celebrating not only Muslim festivals but also those of other religions and ethnic groups will be organised across the country, fostering a spirit of inclusivity and mutual respect.  

Faruki highlighted that preparations are underway to celebrate the upcoming Pahela Baishakh with participation from all national groups, reflecting the nation's rich diversity. "Our strength and beauty lie in our diversity," he said. "We want to celebrate this diversity together."  

To mark Chaitra Sankranti, Sadhu Mela, a traditional fair, will be organised in 12 districts across the country. 

Additionally, a grand concert featuring performances by renowned artists and bands will take place at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. The line-up includes popular Bangladeshi bands like Miles, Warfaze, Dalchhut, and Lalan, as well as cultural troupes representing indigenous communities such as the Chakma and Marma.  

The celebrations will also feature a vibrant New Year’s procession, with participation from 27 ethnic groups alongside the majority Bengali community. Adding to the festivities, the iconic rock bands will perform, ensuring a fusion of tradition and modernity.  

In the afternoon, a concert will be held on Manik Mia Avenue, followed by a dazzling drone show in the evening – a first-of-its-kind spectacle in Bangladesh’s cultural calendar.  

Supradeep Chakma, Adviser for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, at the press conference shared that the hill districts are buzzing with excitement ahead of the Bengali New Year and the traditional New Year celebrations of the region’s ethnic groups.  

"Various festivals, including the upcoming Biju festival, are being celebrated in a communal atmosphere," he said. "This time, Bangladesh is presenting itself to the world in a new light—one of harmony and inclusivity."  

The inclusive approach to celebrating the Bengali New Year and Chaitra Sankranti underscores a broader effort to redefine Bangladesh’s cultural identity. By embracing traditions from all corners of society—be it Bengalis or ethnic minorities, Muslims or followers of other faiths—the government aims to heal old wounds and build a united, forward-looking nation.  

As Bangladesh gears up for these unprecedented celebrations, the message is clear: diversity is not just a characteristic of the nation—it is its greatest strength. Through music, art, and shared festivities, the people of Bangladesh are poised to write a new chapter of unity and cultural pride.