Pohela Falgun 1432 begins on February 14, marking the first day of Spring in the Bangla calendar, alongside Valentine’s Day celebrations across the world. This year, however, the festive mood in Bangladesh appears more subdued due to the just-concluded 13th National Election held on February 12.
While Pohela Falgun and Valentine’s Day are usually marked with colorful events, couple outings and celebrity social media posts, showbiz figures have mostly focused on election participation this week.
Film, music and television stars shared their voting moments online and expressed expectations from the new government.
Almost none have publicly posted about Pohela Falgun or Valentine’s Day celebrations so far. Despite the quieter atmosphere, major cinema chains have announced special Valentine’s Day offers for audiences.
The country’s first multiplex chain, Star Cineplex, launched a Valentine’s Couple Dinner Giveaway campaign on its official Facebook page. Participants can post a memory with their loved one, tag the cinema chain and use a designated hashtag for a chance to win dinner coupons. The campaign runs through today, February 14.
Another leading multiplex, Blockbuster Cinemas, reopened after a two-day election break with a Valentine campaign offering free popcorn and Coca-Cola with every ticket purchased between February 14 and 16.
No Bangla, Hindi or English film has been released locally centering the day itself. However, Star Cineplex is screening the Hollywood title ‘Crime 101’ on its global release date, featuring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry among others.
Meanwhile, OTT platform Chorki introduced a special Love Bundle for Pohela Falgun and Valentine’s Day. For a limited period, non-subscribers can watch seven original films for a discounted bundle price, valid for 14 days after purchase. The offer remains active until February 28 and is available for local and international viewers with region-based pricing.
With the city still relatively light after the election travel and the weekend holiday in effect, netizens and their loved ones are expected to celebrate the day in a more personal way this year.
