Condemning the people who capitalize on religion to serve their interests, Prime Minister's ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said the religion card, as history suggests, cannot be played on Bengalis for long. Wishing everyone Shuvo Noboborsho (Happy New Year) from his verified Facebook account on Thursday, he urged the countrymen to uphold the non-communal spirit and peaceful coexistence of all castes and creeds. "The majority of our population are practicing Muslims, but not fundamentalists. To protect the Bengali language and culture, our ancestors once heavily resisted the people who capitalized on religion to serve their interests," he wrote. Also read: Joy blasts BNP-Jamaat rule for corruption Consequently, Joy said, Awami League secured 223 out of 237 Muslim seats in the 1954-Jukto Front election while religion peddlers got only nine seats. "Traditionally, the people of Bangla are simple and religious but neither outwardly showy of religiousness nor peddlers of religion," Sajeeb added.

The government has asked everyone not to hold any mass gatherings and outdoor celebrations during Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, for the second time in a row to curb the spread of Covid-19. However, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs called on the people to welcome the Bengali New Year 1428 on April 14 with online festivities. Pahela Baishakh celebrations form an integral part of Bengali culture since they began over six centuries back. A notification issued by the ministry on Wednesday said, "In line with the instructions issued by the Cabinet Division, following the current Covid-19 situation, it is requested that events be organised on online platforms if possible. Mass gatherings should  be avoided at any cost." Also read: Bangladesh shatters its all-time records of daily Covid cases All programmes had also been cancelled last year to avoid mass gatherings to curb the spread of Covid-19. Bangladesh is now seeing a spike in Covid-19 cases and deaths for the last few weeks.  The country saw the highest number of daily infections with 7,626 new cases reported until early Wednesday since the outbreak began in March last year.  Also, the country recorded 63 more deaths from the virus in the past 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. Also read: Pahela Baishakh being celebrated without outdoor programmes Although the government enforced a 7-day lockdown from Monday restricting people's movement, shutting shops, markets and suspending operations of public transport, people took it lightly and are moving around freely defying the restriction, posing risks of more transmission. Also, the movement of city buses resumed on Wednesday, two days after the enforcement of the lockdown, as the government has allowed public transport services in city corporation areas. However, hospitals are struggling to provide treatment to the increasing number of coronavirus patients with their limited resources.

A three-day festival is scheduled to begin on Sunday afternoon at Lalon Akhra in Chheuria village in Kumarkhali upazila remembering the legendry Baul Lalon Shah.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday stressed the need for paying a special attention to further spread Bangla literature and culture in the world arena.