The long-standing Pahela Baishakh celebration at DC Hill in Chattogram has been cancelled after miscreants vandalised the stage on Sunday night, just hours before the traditional Bengali New Year event was set to begin.
The attack took place around 7:45 pm at the Nazrul Square area under Kotwali police station.
Organisers said a group of 30 to 40 young men stormed the venue chanting slogans like “Down with fascist collaborators!” before tearing down decorations, banners, and stage drapes.
According to UNB, police have detained six individuals in connection with the incident.
Authorities confirmed that no one was physically harmed, and the main structure of the stage remained intact. However, due to security concerns, organisers from the Sammilito Pahela Baishakh Udjapon Parishad officially called off the event.
“This program has been held without interruption for 47 years. For the first time, we are forced to cancel out of fear of further violence,” said Mohammad Ali Titu, the organising committee’s member secretary.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police (South) Deputy Commissioner Md. Alamgir Hossain stated that those detained are being interrogated and legal proceedings are underway.