Programmes to celebrate Pahela Baishakh today

13 April 2010, 18:00 PM

DU Correspondent

Different socio-political and cultural organisations as well as educational institutions have chalked out elaborate programmes to celebrate the biggest carnival of Bangalees -- Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year 1417, today. President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia in separate messages yesterday greeted the nation on the occasion. To mark the biggest festival of the country, the government has taken a series of programmes across the country to celebrate the occasion. It will honour the noted citizens, who achieved Swadhinata Puraskar (awards) and Ekushey Padak (medals), at Bangabhaban. It will also arrange folk fair, discussions and cultural events at five divisional headquarters as well as at the district and upazila headquarters. Entry to all museums run by the government will be free today. Awami League will bring out a colourful procession in the capital and arrange cultural events and Baishakhi fairs across the country to welcome the carnival. The students of Dhaka University will welcome the festival amid huge festivities and gaiety on the campus. Nazrul Institute will organise a discussion, prize giving ceremony and cultural session at Kabi Bhaban in Dhanmondi in the morning. National Children's Park at Shahbagh will remain open for all from 10:00am to 8:00pm. Transcom Foods Limited (Pizza Hut and KFC) will welcome the carnival through various cultural events, including folk songs, a folk fair and a procession, at its respective offices and showrooms. Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and Bangla Academy will jointly arrange a 10-day Baishakhi Mela (fair) on the academy premises. Industries Minister Dilip Barua will inaugurate the fair at 4:00pm. National Museum will arrange a folk festival on its premises in the morning while it will remain open for all from 10:30am to 5:30pm without any entry fee. Students and cultural activists will sing folk songs, recite poems and perform dance numbers on the Liberation War Museum premises in the morning to mark the day. Mobile phone maker Nokia will organise a mega concert at Banani Society Ground in the afternoon to celebrate the biggest festival of the Bangalees. Gulshan Youth Club will organise a fair for unprivileged children in the morning while Nazrul Academy will hold a cultural session in the evening. Dhaka Radisson Water Garden Hotel will serve special Bangalee food items on the day. National Press Club, Jahangirnagar University, Stamford University Bangladesh, Law Association, Kendriya Khelaghar Asar, Ghasphul Shishu Kishore Sangathan, Bangladesh Nagorik Samaj, IFIC Bank, Sargam Lalitakala Academy, Sahitya Sangskriti Kendra, Shinning Stars International School, Jasim Uddin Institute, Sangskriti Kendra and Glamour World will also celebrate the day.