A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking a permanent ban on the Mangal Shobhajatra procession held on Pahela Baishakh.
Advocate Md Mahbubul Hasan Mamun, a lawyer of the Supreme Court, filed the petition in the public interest, citing concerns that the event severely damages the faith, religious freedom, constitutional rights, and communal harmony of the country’s Muslim majority.
The respondents named in the writ include the secretary of culture, secretary of Religion, secretary of Home Affairs, deputy commissioner of Dhaka, vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, and dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
The petitioner seeks a directive to restrain the respondents from organising, promoting, approving, or conducting the procession in any manner.
According to the petition, the Mangal Shobhajatra is not an ancient Bengali tradition but a “newly created and artificial” activity that began in 1989 under the name “Ananda Shobhajatra.” It argues that the name was later changed and strategically linked to the core culture of Pahela Baishakh.
The writ further contends that carrying large replicas of birds, fish, and animals to seek ‘Mangal’ (well-being) is entirely contrary to Islamic Aqidah and Iman.
It notes that many of the replicas used are historically linked to Hindu religious symbols, which could provoke intense religious resentment among the Muslim population.
This situation, the petition claims, creates a real and imminent risk of communal conflict and constitutes a direct violation of Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution, which guarantee the “protection of law” and the “right to life.”
The petition also describes the state-sponsored imposition of this activity as unlawful, and a violation of the religious freedom provided under Article 41 of the Constitution. It warns that the continuation of such activities poses a serious threat to overall peace, national stability, and public safety.
Advocate Mamun alleged that the government occasionally changes the name of the procession due to fear of public anger, only to revert to “Mangal Shobhajatra” shortly after. He stated that the writ was filed to achieve a final resolution on the matter and that a hearing is expected to take place in the High Court soon.
