The centuries-old Basia Mela brought ethnic communities together in Dinajpur’s Birganj upazila on Friday, celebrating their cultural heritage through traditional music, dance and social gatherings.
Held at Golapganj High School ground, the daylong fair provided an opportunity for members of the Santal and other ethnic communities to reconnect with their traditions, strengthen social ties and celebrate their shared identity.
The Birganj Upazila ethnic Community Development Association organised the fair, which is believed to date back around 200 years.
Dinajpur-1 MP Md Monjurul Islam inaugurated the event.
Visitors gathered around stalls selling sweets, pithas and earthenware, while traditional dance and musical performances featuring drums added to the festive atmosphere.
The fair also brought together families, relatives and visitors from distant areas, serving as a meeting place for different ethnic communities.
A leaflet distributed at the venue by the Dinajpur ethnic Youth Community highlighted the fair’s cultural significance, particularly for the Santal and other ethnic groups in northern Bangladesh.
According to the leaflet, the fair has five main objectives: preserving cultural traditions, strengthening social bonds, promoting dignity and rights, maintaining cultural continuity and encouraging harmony among communities.
It emphasised that the event represents a broader cultural tradition rather than any single social practice.
The leaflet also urged journalists, content creators and visitors to respect the dignity and privacy of ethnic participants and avoid sharing unverified photographs or videos taken without permission.
Organisers said the fair also traditionally provides an opportunity for young people from ethnic communities to meet and get to know one another, including those seeking prospective life partners.
However, such interactions form only part of the wider cultural and social gathering.
Birganj Upazila Indigenous Community Development Association President Shital Mardi and General Secretary Kamala Kanta Hasda were among the organisers.
Birganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Suma Khatun said the administration had taken steps to ensure the fair was held peacefully.
Birganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Saiful Islam said law enforcement personnel would remain on duty until the event ended.
Maricha Union Parishad Chairman Helal Chowdhury described Basia Mela as an important part of the area’s heritage and called for its traditions to be respected.
Ward member Azibul Islam said the fair was a gathering that strengthened community relationships and urged an end to misleading portrayals of the event.
