Following the inaugural segment, the performances began with a choral presentation by Chhayanaut artistes, conducted by Asit Kumar Dey. Based on the resonance of Raga Malkauns, the piece brought together elements of five different ragas. Badal Chowdhury accompanied on the tabla, while Tinku Shil played the harmonium.

On Tuesday afternoon, December 23, when the gates of Chhayanaut opened, it was clear this would not be a routine cultural programme, rather a peaceful cultural protest titled “Gaane Gaane Songhoti Samabesh”, as a large crowd gathered to show solidarity in response to recent attacks on cultural spaces and growing concerns over freedom of expression.

When cultural institutions crumble, archives burn, and instruments shatter, it is not merely walls that vanish—it is memory, identity, and moral courage. Culture cannot be revised; it is what history has written. Every assault upon it shakes the quiet foundations of a nation’s conscience.

Nearly every room was vandalised, property was looted, and parts of the building were set on fire. Police and army personnel arrived shortly after the incident, brought the situation under control, and extinguished the flames. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were also present at the scene.

Within the scarred walls of Chhayanaut, the repair of a broken harmonium is more than a maintenance task, it is an act of institutional defiance.

Work underway to identify those involved, says Farooki

Choudhury offered a stark diagnosis of the present. Bangladesh, he said, is moving away from the spirit of the martyred intellectuals for two reasons: a shrinking practice of history and its growing distortion; and a widening distance from the dreams and consciousness of the Liberation War.

Chhayanaut has announced an expansion of its online activities as Chhayanaut Digital marks its first anniversary, unveiling a slate of research-led programming, archive-based presentations and projects dedicated to preserving cultural memory.

Chhayanaut general secretary Laisa Ahmed Lisa said in a release that the night will feature songs by five traditional lyricists, including Lalon Sain and Manmohan Dutta.

Chhayanaut has called upon the government to reconsider its decision to abolish the posts of music and physical education teachers in government primary schools.

A special musical tribute was held in memory of the late Rabindra Sangeet artiste and founding president of Chhayanaut, Sanjida Khatun, in Sydney, Australia. The commemorative programme, held in an atmosphere of mourning and reverence, took place last Sunday (July 27) at the Ermington Community Centre.

Held at the Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban auditorium in Dhanmondi, the evening began at 7pm with Iffat Ara Dewan’s emotive rendition of “Aji Jhorer Raate Tomar Abhisar”. Her voice set the tone for a programme that unfolded as a conversation between rain, music, and memory—filled with longing, passion, and nature’s drama.

Departing from the usual commemorative fare of patriotic or devotional pieces, the concert spotlighted Nazrul’s lesser-explored work in the thumri genre, revealing his artistic range as a composer unafraid to traverse genres and expand musical language. Both celebrated vocalists and promising young talents took the stage, honouring the legacy while pushing it forward.

Marking a decade of dedication to national cultural expression and the richness of indigenous traditions, cultural organisation Joltorongo is set to celebrate its 10-year journey with a special programme titled “Bhalo Theko Phool” at the Chhayanaut Cultural Center in Dhanmondi.

Today marks the 164th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate whose literary brilliance and humanist ideals continue to inspire generations. Across Bangladesh, cultural institutions are paying homage to the iconic poet with a wide range of commemorative events.

Thousands of Bangalees ushered in Bengali Year 1432 at Ramna Batamul on Monday morning, as Chhayanaut’s iconic Pahela Baishakh celebration marked its 58th edition with renewed hope, harmony, and heritage.

As the sun rose over Dhaka, Chhayanaut’s Pahela Baishakh celebration for the Bengali year 1432 began at Ramna Batamul. The theme of Chhayanaut's Pahela Baishakh celebration this year is "Amar Mukti Aloy Aloy" (my freedom lies in light). Through this theme, Chhayanaut aims to convey a message of hope, resilience, and renewal.

As the nation now stands on the cusp of renewal, Pahela Baishakh 1432 arrives at a time when the people of Bangladesh are eager to reclaim their cultural voice—seeking a deeper connection to its identity, heritage, and hope. For centuries, it has been an occasion of collective celebration, resilience, and unity.

Chhayanaut is all set to celebrate Bangla New Year, Pahela Baishakh, with its iconic cultural programme at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka.

Chhayanaut paid its final respects to one of its founding members and current president, the eminent cultural figure, Rabindra researcher, and musicologist Sanjida Khatun, through the song "Amar Mukti Aloy Aloy”.