United News of Bangladesh

Preparations for the ‘Ananda Shobhajatra’, a vibrant procession to welcome the Bengali New Year 1432, are in their final stages, according to organisers. During a visit to Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts (Charukola) on Sunday, artists were seen working with great zeal and dedication. No one allowed to join ‘Ananda Shobhajatra’ arbitrarily: DMP chief The restoration of the partially burnt ‘Dove of Peace’ has been completed, and efforts are underway to remake a similar face structure symbolising fascism, which was also damaged in Saturday's fire. An effigy symbolising Sheikh Hasina’s fascism was set ablaze on Saturday at the Fine Arts Institute. Crafted from bamboo and cane, the depiction portrayed a woman with a toothy grin, four horns on her head, a large nose, and two fearful eyes. The striking image led many to believe it resembled ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  On Saturday early morning, a fire broke out at the Fine Arts Faculty where the motifs were being made: the monstrous fascist face motif was completely burnt in the fire, while the dove of peace motif was also partially burnt. DU to hold ‘Barshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra’ instead of ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ In a Facebook post made Saturday morning, Cultural Affairs adviser Mostafa Sarwar Farooki condemned the incident and warned that those involved - regardless of political label - must face legal consequences. They said the work will be completed before dawn tomorrow. With the slogan ‘Symphony of New Year, End of Fascism’, the ‘Ananda Shobajatra' will start tomorrow at 9 am from in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts. Preparations for the procession will begin at 8 am. The procession will start from in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts and pass by Shahbagh intersection, TSC intersection, Shaheed Minar, Physical Education Centre, Doel Square, and end again at the Faculty of Fine Arts via the road in front of Bangla Academy. ‘Ananda Shobhajatra’ motifs burnt at DU Fine Arts Faculty To maintain discipline and beauty, entry into the procession will not be allowed from the sides. The authorities have requested everyone to join the procession from the end point. On Pahela Boishakh, no kind of mask-wearing or carrying of bags will be allowed on the university campus. However, masks prepared by the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts can be carried in hand and displayed. The authorities asked people to end all types of New Year programs on campus by 5 pm tomorrow. On the occasion of the New Year, from 7 pm this evening, no vehicles without a university sticker will be allowed to enter the campus. On New Year’s Day, no type of vehicle will be allowed to run on the campus, and motorcycle riding is completely prohibited. Any resident of the university campus may use only the gates near Nilkhet intersection and Palashi intersection for commuting with their own vehicles.  

No one will be permitted to join the ‘Ananda Shobhajatra’ midway once the procession starts during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali said on Sunday. The DMP Commissioner made the remarks while talking to reporters following an inspection of the security arrangements at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka. DB chief Rezaul Karim removed, transferred to DMP HQ The traditional ‘Ananda Shobhajatra’ procession, held to mark Pahela Baishakh, will start from the Faculty of Fine Arts, moving through Shahbagh, TSC, Shaheed Minar, Doel Chattar, Bangla Academy and will return to the Faculty of Fine Arts, he informed. “The entire procession route will be under stringent security surveillance. Entry via alternative or side routes will not be permitted,” he added. Assuring that there is no lack of security measures, the DMP chief said 18,000 police personnel will be deployed during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations, with members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Bangladesh Army, and Anti-Terrorism Unit also on duty alongside the police. Intelligence agencies will be operating in coordination as well, he added. DMP identifies DU arsonist, arrest expected before Pahela Baishakh procession “So far, there is no specific threat. It is expected that police will assist Dhaka University in ensuring a peaceful and successful celebration,” Sazzat Ali said. To facilitate smooth celebrations, the city has been divided into 21 sectors. A sufficient number of both uniformed and plainclothes police will be deployed across the capital, while key installations will be searched by dog squads. Besides, barricades will be set up at 21 key points, including Ramna Park and Suhrawardy Udyan. All event venues will be equipped with archways and handheld metal detectors for security screening. Law enforcement agencies will monitor the main procession and its surrounding areas via CCTV, video cameras and drones along the entire route. There will be ample foot patrols and specialised units including the CTTC, SWAT teams and others will be deployed as well. To prevent incidents such as eve-teasing and snatching, plainclothes detective teams will be on duty, Sazzat Ali said. The Commissioner also mentioned that cyber monitoring is being strengthened to prevent the spread of rumours and misinformation on social media ahead of the celebrations. He urged participants not to carry bags, sharp objects, or flammable items during the festivities. All events must conclude on time, and venues must be vacated as per the stipulated schedule. He further warned that fireworks, sky lanterns and noise-polluting items such as whistles will not be allowed. “No commercial products may be promoted or marketed as part of the celebrations, particularly during the procession or at event venues.” The Commissioner also urged caution for those planning to attend the Chhayanaut event. “Women and children should avoid large crowds and use only the designated entry and exit points.” Entry to Suhrawardy Udyan will be permitted through three gates until 5pm, after which all gates will serve as exits. The gate on the western side of Suhrawardy Udyan, opposite the Faculty of Fine Arts, will remain closed during the procession, with movement through that gate restricted. Participants must enter via the Shahbagh intersection. Those joining after the Chhayanaut event must proceed via Shahbagh, Katabon and Nilkhet, and join the procession in front of the Dhaka University Vice Chancellor’s residence.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has identified the miscreant responsible for setting fire to a motif at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University ahead of the Pahela Baishakh celebrations and the suspect is expected to be arrested by Monday morning, before the Ananda Shobhajatra begins, said DMP Commissioner Sazzat Ali. “The miscreant involved in setting fire to the motif — a symbolic face representing autocracy — has already been identified. We hope to arrest the individual before the Shobhajatra begins tomorrow (Monday),” he told journalists while inspecting the security arrangements for the Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Park in the capital on Sunday morning. “A case has been filed over the incident under the Shahbagh Police Station. We are very close to solving the case,” he added. 'Fascist’s Effigy' burned at DU: Farooki blames Hasina’s ‘allies’, vows stronger resistance Earlier on Saturday, a fire destroyed several symbolic motifs, including the ‘monstrous face of fascism’ and the ‘dove of peace’, created for the Bengali New Year celebrations organised by the Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts. "The fire is believed to have started between 4:45am and 5:00am. It may have occurred while mobile team members on duty had gone to offer Fajr prayers," said DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed. Crafted from bamboo and cane, the depiction portrayed a woman with a toothy grin, four horns on her head, a large nose, and two fearful eyes. The striking image led many to believe it resembled ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In a Facebook post made Saturday morning, Farooki condemned the incident and warned that those involved - regardless of political label - must face legal consequences.