Thursday was a day of heavy rains in the Moulvibazar area. Like the new tea leaves blooming on every plant, an air of festivity lingered in the tea estates.

Preparations for Chaitra Sangkranti and Pohela Boishakh are gathering steam in Barisal city.

As elsewhere in the country, socio-cultural and educational organisations of the port city are now busy readying to herald Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year, and to bid farewell to the old year.