Pahela Baishakh procession at DU to begin at 9am

Dhaka University is set to celebrate the Bengali New Year 1433 on Tuesday with elaborate programmes, as preparations across the campus have been completed in a festive atmosphere.

This year’s Baishakhi Shobhajatra, themed “Harmony of the New Year, Revival of Democracy”, will begin at 9:00am from in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts. Preparations for the procession will start from 8:00am.

The procession will commence from Gate No 3 (north) of the Faculty of Fine Arts, proceed towards Shahbagh Police Station, take a U-turn, and pass by Raju Sculpture, the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), Doel Chattar, and Bangla Academy before returning to the starting point.

Participants will be allowed to enter the campus only through Nilkhet and Palashi intersections. Other entry points and adjacent roads will remain closed during the procession. Entry into the procession from surrounding areas will not be permitted to maintain discipline and order.

Continuing its tradition, the university has arranged for broad participation reflecting folk heritage and cultural identity. This year’s procession will feature five motifs — rooster, violin, dove, elephant, and horse — symbolising strength, creativity, peace, pride, and dynamism.

A group of 35 musicians will perform the national anthem, “Esho He Baishakh”, and patriotic songs, while around 200 students will carry the national flag.

No masks or bags will be allowed on campus during Pahela Baishakh, although masks prepared by the Faculty of Fine Arts may be displayed by hand. English placards, balloons, festoons, fireworks, and vuvuzelas are also prohibited.

Several gates to Suhrawardy Udyan will remain closed during the procession. All programmes on campus must conclude by 5:00pm, and entry will not be permitted after that time.

Starting today (April 13) after 7:00pm, only vehicles with university stickers will be allowed to enter the campus. No vehicles, including motorcycles, will be permitted on campus on Pahela Baishakh. Residents may use the Nilkhet and Palashi gates for necessary movement.

Help desks, a control room, and a temporary medical camp will be set up in front of TSC. Mobile public toilets will be installed in key areas including TSC, Doel Chattar, and Curzon Hall.

Adequate security measures, including CCTV cameras and archways, have been put in place across the campus for the occasion.