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Published : 31 Mar 2026, 09:06 PM
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury has said the renaming of the “Mongol Shobhajatra” to the “Anondo Shobhajatra” was a needless move during the interim administration’s tenure.
Speaking at the Secretariat on Tuesday, he said Pohela Boishakh will be celebrated with due dignity this year as well, following “traditional practices”.
On the rationale behind the name change, the minister said: “There was no need to rename… The procession has always been known as the Mongol Shobhajatra.
“We are not allergic to Mongol nor do we gain from calling it Anondo. The debate is pointless.”
A meeting was held at the Senate Building of Dhaka University to plan the celebrations for Bengali New Year 1433, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam.
On the decisions taken, Faculty of Fine Arts Dean Prof Azharul Islam told bdnews24.com: “We discussed how this year we can make the celebrations more inclusive.”
On the procession’s name, he added: “The discussion confirmed that the event will again be called Anondo Shobhajatra. The reason for this was clarified last year.
“The first fine arts procession on Pohela Boishakh was named ‘Borshoboron Anondo Shobhajatra’. Later it became known as Mongol Shobhajatra. We are now maintaining the original continuity.”
Preparations began on Monday at the Faculty of Fine Arts grounds. This year’s theme is “Unity of the New Year, Revival of Democracy”.
The procession will set off from the faculty at 9am, pass Raju Sculpture, Doel Chattar, and Bangla Academy, and conclude back at the fine arts premises, the dean said.
Originating in the 1980s as a call against military rule, the gained recognition as a UNESCO cultural heritage event in 2016.
Historically, the procession began with the national anthem from the fine arts faculty after the Pohela Boishakh celebrations at Ramna Botmool.
Participants of all ages joined in festive attire.
Some religious groups opposed the “Mongol Shobhajatra” during the Awami League era, and opposition intensified under Muhammad Yunus’s interim rule, leading to the 2025 renaming.
