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Published : 13 Apr 2026, 04:45 PM
After a period of uncertainty and disputes over venues, Chattogram is set to celebrate Pahela Baishakh 1433 with renewed fervour as the district administration, BNP-leaning groups, and veteran cultural organisations have joined forces.
The traditional celebrations at DC Hill and CRB’s Shirishtala are returning to the spotlight, signalling a collaborative approach to the city’s heritage following last year’s disruptions.
The “Sammilita Pahela Baishakh Udjapan Parishad, Chattogram”, which has organised the DC Hill event for 47 years, initially planned to move to the Central Shaheed Minar after disagreements with the district administration.
After police denied permission for the Shaheed Minar venue due to security concerns, the Parishad agreed to act as a "partner" to the district administration’s official programme at DC Hill.
District Cultural Officer Syed Ayaz Mabud noted that the administration stepped in to ensure the tradition did not fade.
"The deputy commissioner took the initiative to bring everyone together so that this integral part of Chattogram’s heritage continues," he said.
The district administration will lead a “Baishakhi Shobhajatra” on Tuesday at 8am, starting from the Circuit House and concluding at DC Hill.
Organisers are aiming for the largest parade in the city's history, expecting nearly 10,000 participants.
Students at the Shilpakala Academy have prepared hundreds of masks, Shola motifs, and Sora Chitra (pottery paintings).
The parade will feature the Binoy Banshi drum troupe alongside students and groups representing farmers, fishermen, tea workers, and labourers.
For the first time, a 1.5-km street painting (Alpona) has been drawn from the Circuit House to DC Hill.
At CRB’s Shirishtala, the celebration is being held under the banner of “Sammilita Nababarsha Udjapan Parishad, Chattogram”.
In a new development, the Railway Officers’ Club has taken over the overall management of the venue, which belongs to the Bangladesh Railway.
Several other organisations have announced independent programmes across the city.
