Bangladesh Canada Association of Calgary (BCAOC) is set to celebrate Pohela Boishakh, the traditional and heart-bound festival of the Bengali people, with a vibrant day-long event.
The “Baishakhi Mela and Cultural Programme” will be held on April 18 at the Dera Banquet Hall in Calgary.
Organisers recently detailed the schedule and objectives of the upcoming festivities during a press conference held at the “Bangladesh Centre” in Calgary.
The press conference was attended by BCAC President Iqbal Rahman, General Secretary Asif Hossain, Vice Presidents Anwarul Karim Hiru and Alamgir Darain, Former President Abdullah Rafiq, and Advisor Zakir Hossain. Also in attendance were singer Salim Reza and organisation members Nilanjana Roy, Subarna Khandaker, Sultan Taipur, Rehana Parvin, and Md Hakim. Channel i and Probas Bangla Voice have been named as media partners for the event.
In a written statement, Anwarul Karim Hiru announced that a primary attraction of this year’s Mela will be a colourful Mongol Shobhajatra, featuring the participation of children and teenagers. This special initiative aims to introduce the younger generation of the diaspora to their native heritage and culture.
The day-long festival will also include a traditional folk fair (Lokojo Mela), “adda” (informal gatherings), and various traditional Bengali rituals. A major highlight of the cultural segment will be a performance by Maqsoodul Haque (Maqsood), the celebrated singer from the legendary Bangladeshi band ‘Feedback’. He is expected to perform popular songs from the 1980s and 1990s, while local young artists will also take the stage to perform contemporary music.
Organisers expressed their hope that the event would serve as a vital gathering point for the Bengali community to find pure joy amidst the busy nature of expatriate life. It was further confirmed that representatives from the Alberta government will attend the celebrations.
