After spending two Bengali New Year celebrations with no in-person events and virtual celebrations, different government and cultural organisations finally welcomed Bangla New Year 1429 by organizing diverse programmes at different public venues. The festivities of the day started in the early morning with the traditional cultural programme organised by Chhayanaut at the Ramna Batamul in the capital. Also read:Amid tight security, Pahela Boisakh celebrated in DU Dhaka University campus to witness Mangal Shobhajatra brought out by fine arts faculty of Dhaka University to welcome the advent of Baishakh 1429. Besides, special programmes will be organised in Uttara, Dhanmondi and other areas in the capital at 6:15 am. The two-hour programme featured group and solo songs presentations, dance recitals, speech and poetry recitations and instrumental presentations.

DhakaSeeking solidarity and unity against various forms of injustice and moral policing that continues to stifle artistic expression across the country, a number of cultural organizations and personalities gathered Tuesday in front of the Bangladesh National Museum in the capital. ‘Shilpir Pashe’, a unified body speaking against oppression faced by artists, arranged the solidarity event where they urged that the targeted media campaign against artists be put to a halt. The event was joined by a large group of noted cultural activists who echoed the unity against oppressions through a protest rally, songs and dance recitals, poem recitations, live paintings and street plays. Eminent thespian Mamunur Rashid, Secretary General of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation Kamal Bayezid and Ganajagaran Mancha activist Akramul Haque spoke at the event, voicing their concerns while Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee President Shahriar Kabir, human rights activist and Nijera Kori coordinator Khushi Kabir virtually joined and spoke, expressing their solidarity with the protest. “Throughout history, we have seen how the cultural activists have played vital roles in every political and social revolution - however, they rarely received their deserved recognition for their contributions to society. Many of our folk singers and artists representing other sectors have been bullied, imprisoned and tortured, which is unacceptable and I sincerely implore everyone to stand with these artists against these oppressions," Mamunur Rashid said at the event.

Different cultural organizations in the country observed the National Mourning Day, marking the 46th death anniversary of Father of the Nation  Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by holding a variety of virtual and hybrid-format events on Sunday. Organizations including Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Abritti Somonnoy Parishad, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Somonnoy Parishad and others streamed cultural programmes and discussions on their official Facebook pages. Read: Bangabandhu’s life, sacrifice being showcased in NYC's Times Square Bangla Academy arranged a webinar featuring State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, National Professor and the academy’s current Chairman Rafiqul Islam, Liberation War Museum trustee Mofidul Hoque, recitation artist and Sammilita Snagskritik Jote’s General Secretary Hasan Arif, singer Timir Nandi, recitation artist Rupa Chakrabarty, and Ministry of Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur. Poet Nurul Huda, Director General of Bangla , delivered his welcome speech at the webinar, which was hosted by Bangla Academy Secretary AHM Lokman. A handful of online events were organized by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), marking the National Mourning Day on its Facebook page. As part of its events, BSA organized a virtual programme on Sunday night which was joined by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid as the chief guest. National professor and Bangla Academy Chairman Rafiqul Islam, Cultural Affairs Ministry secretary Md Abul Mansur, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy secretary Asaduzzaman, Bangla Academy Director General poet Nurul Huda, and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee assistant general secretary Dr Nuzhat Choudhury were present as discussants at the event, which was presided over by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy director general Liaquat Ali Lucky. Thespian and former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor poet Dr Muhammad Samad, poet Nirmalendu Goon, Indian-Bengali singer Mitali Mukherjee, poet Kazi Rozi, singer-composer Naquib Khan, poet Asim Saha, singer Timir Nandi, poet Tarik Sujat, and others performed in the online cultural programme followed by the discussion, moderated by media personality Dr Abdun Noor Tushar. Read:Inspired to protect the values Bangabandhu stood for: India BSA has also launched a six-day virtual drama show on Bangabandhu on its Facebook page and YouTube channel. Performed and recorded by District Shilpakala Academy in Chittagong, Kushtia, Thakurgaon, Manikganj, Moulvibazar and Barguna, the opening day drama titled ‘Rajnityr Kobi’ was presented by Chittagong District Shilpakala Academy at 8 pm on Sunday. Liberation War Museum uploaded a tribute video titled “August-er Bishonno Bikel” on its Facebook page, as a homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Directed by trustee of the Liberation War Museum Mofidul Hoque, the video features a recitation by former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor reading from the late Syed Najmuddin Hashim’s writing, and Bhaskar Bandyopadhyay reciting Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “Pother Sheshe” which was synchronised with dancer Sudeshna Swayamprabha’s dance recital, choreographed by Sharmila Bandhopadhyay. Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Somonnoy Parishad organised a webinar, streamed live on its Facebook group featuring writer-columnist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, thespian and International Theatre Institute (ITI) President Ramendu Majumdar, and Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Samannay Parishad President Tapan Mahmud. The speakers spoke on the life and works of Mujib at the programme, which was anchored by the General Secretary of the organisation Biswajit Roy. Bangladesh National Museum organized a hybrid discussion ceremony at its Sufia Kamal Auditorium. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, President of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Ministry of Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur virtually joined and spoke at the event, among others. Read:Nation observing Bangabandhu’s anniversary of martyrdom in a somber mood The discussion was chaired by Khandaker Mostafizur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh National Museum. Several other cultural organizations, educational institutions, television channels and radio stations also arranged multiple discussions and cultural programmes, commemorating the life and works of the Father of the Nation and his family members.

Celebrating the 101st birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation and the founding president of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children’s Day, cultural organizations arranged seminars and cultural events on Wednesday.

German language school and cultural organization Gothe-Institut Bangladesh has launched a funding initiative titled “Futures beyond the Self” for all Bangladeshi artists/artistes, art collectives, cultural activists, and cultural organizations for their innovative projects.