Chhayanaut on Sunday unveiled its comprehensive programme to celebrate Pohela Baishakh 1433, highlighting the spirit of unity, inclusiveness and cultural resilience.
Speaking at a press conference held at Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban in the afternoon, Chhayanaut President Dr Sarwar Ali, Vice Presidents Khairul Anam Shakil and Partha Tanvir Naved, General Secretary Laisa Ahmed Lisa and Joint Secretary Jayanta Roy said people are once again ready to welcome the new year, rising above divisions of religion, class and identity.
Quoting Rabindranath Tagore’s iconic line “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,” they stressed that the strength of Bengali identity lies in freedom of thought and cultural expression.
The New Year celebration will begin at 6:15 am at Ramna Park, featuring Chhayanaut’s signature musical presentation. The programme will combine nature-inspired songs, patriotic music and folk traditions reflecting everyday life.
At this year’s event, a special tribute will be dedicated to renowned composer Salil Chowdhury and lyricist-composer Motlub Ali for their contributions to historic social and political movements.
About 200 artists will participate in the two-hour event, which will feature eight choral performances, fourteen solo songs, and two recitations.
The programme will be broadcast simultaneously on Bangladesh Television and Deepto Television. It will also be streamed live on Chhayanaut’s official YouTube channel and Facebook page, as well as on the online platforms of Prothom Alo and bdnews24.com. A delayed broadcast will be aired on Channel i.
Law enforcement agencies and the Public Works Department are providing support to ensure the smooth execution of the event. Volunteers from the Thirteenth Hussars Open Rover Scout Group and Aegis Services Limited are assisting with the event. Stage design has been prepared by artists Mominul Haque Dulu and Ranjit Roy, both alumni of Chhayanaut.
Reaffirming its long-standing commitment to cultural practice, Chhayanaut called for uninterrupted artistic expression and thanked its supporters for their continued cooperation in preserving and promoting Bengali culture.
The organisation expressed hope that the new year would inspire people to leave behind the adversities of the past year and embrace a more humane and compassionate outlook. It also voiced concern over ongoing global conflicts and called for peace, stability and collective well-being for humanity.
For Chhayanaut, this year will mark the 59th edition of its traditional Pohela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul in the capital.
