Bangladesh: Poila Baisakh celebration stage vandalised in Chittagong

Apart from vandalising the stage, the banners prepared for the event were also destroyed by the attackers.

Police later detained six people in connection with the incident.

The incident occurred around 7:15pm at the venue of the “Combined Pohela Boishakh Celebration Committee", Dhaka Tribune reported.

Mohammad Ali Titu, committee's member secretary, told the newspaper: "At around 7:15pm, 40 to 50 people stormed the stage shouting slogans like 'Swairachar-er doshor ra, hushiar—shabdhan' (Allies of the autocrat, beware).”

“They vandalized the stage and tore down banners. Our event was scheduled to begin on Monday morning. We had completed all necessary preparations,” he said.

He said the situation is currently not proper to host the event on Monday when the South Asian country will be celebrating New Year for the first time since former PM Sheikh Hasina was ousted on August 5, 2024.

"We have not officially cancelled it yet. At the moment, we are not in a position to proceed with the arrangements,” he said.

Police Reaction

Deputy Commissioner (South) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Md Alamgir Hossain told the newspaper: “A group of miscreants tore down the banner on the stage set up for the Pohela Boishakh event at DC Hill.”

He said, “However, the main structure of the stage remains intact. We have detained five people so far. They have been taken to the station, and we are interrogating them about the vandalism.”

Dhaka

Two 'Poila Baisakh'  (Bengali New Year) motifs, which were created by Dhaka University's Fine Arts faculty, have been set on fire with Bangladesh interim government member and director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki blaming former PM Sheikh Hasina's cohorts for the act.

In a Facebook post, Farooki, adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, said: "After last night's incident, Hasina's friends have made it clear that they do not want the people of Bangladesh to unite and celebrate."

The 'Mongol Shobhajatra' is an integral part of the Bengali New Year celebration in the South Asian country that witnessed a massive political transformation in 2024.

After Hasina escaped to India amid massive protests against her government, Bangladesh saw a rise in attacks against minorities and Awami League supporters.

Amid the rise of Islamic radicalism in the country, the 'Mongol Shobhajatra’ has been renamed as ‘Anondo Shobhajatra’.

The announcement was made at a press conference held today (11 April) at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka, which organises the annual procession, reported The Business Standard.

Earlier this year, Islamic radical group Hefazat-e-Islam had described Mongol Shobhajatra a "Hindu ritual" and urged the government to change its name.

Issuing a statement, the group had further alleged that the Mongol Shobhajatra is "flooded with idols and imagery of Hindu deities and animals," which they argue is unacceptable in a secular setup.

"Secularists never object to this, but are quick to target Islamic symbols under the pretext of neutrality," the statement read.

UNESCO Recognition

UNESCO had recognised the 'Mongol Shobhajatra' as an 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'.

Organized by students and teachers of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Art in Bangladesh, the tradition aiming to promote inclusivity began in 1989.