Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki on Sunday revealed the preparations for this year’s Bangla New Year celebrations, emphasizing greater inclusivity and diversity in the festivities with participation from various cultural entities.

"After working for 40 years, this is the first time I have been invited to such a meeting," said Miles band frontman Hamin Ahmed, during a preparatory discussion at the Secretariat on the upcoming celebrations on Sunday. Sharing this example, Farooki noted in a post on Facebook that this was a first-time experience for many others as well:

"For the first time, representatives from diverse ethnic communities, alongside artists from various musical traditions, sat together at the Secretariat on Sunday to brainstorm for the festival. Attendees included members of bands, classical music groups like Surer Dhara and Chhayanaut, the Islamic cultural organization Saimum, and representatives from the Garo and Marma communities."

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Farooki expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming celebrations, which he said would be more inclusive, colourful, and musical than ever before.

As part of the events, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will host a rock concert for Chaitra Sankranti at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on April 13 featuring popular Bengali-language bands Miles, Warfaze, Dalchhut, AvoidRafa, Vikings and Stone Free Band, alongside Chakma, Garo, and Marma musical groups.

"It is well-known that band music was once labelled as 'subculture' and kept at a distance. Similarly, some events were isolated under the banner of Islamic culture. However, today, we sat together in the same room at the Secretariat, brainstorming and starting work on this year’s program with immense enthusiasm," said Farooki in the Facebook post.

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This year, the central Shobhajatra (traditional procession) will not only be more inclusive but also more colourful and musical, reflecting the vibrant diversity of Bangladesh, he mentioned.

Additionally, private initiatives will organize Baul and Fakiri music programs, while Shurer Dhara, Chhayanaut, and other cultural institutions will continue their traditional events.

Notably, Shurer Dhara has planned a unique segment, as Farooki stated, integrating performances by artists from various Indigenous communities singing in their native languages, aligning with the theme of inclusivity.

The celebrations will be wrapped up on April 14 with a grand cultural event at Manik Miah Avenue, followed by a drone show-themed "July and New Year," organized in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh.

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The government has also doubled its budget for Pahela Baishakh celebrations at the district and upazila levels, Farooki stated, and special focus has been placed on areas with significant Indigenous populations to ensure broader participation.

The Cultural Adviser also announced that he would personally join the Boishabi Festival in Bandarban and the Fagua Festival of tea workers in Sreemangal, Sylhet, as part of the inclusive nationwide festivities.