The arrival of New Year's Eve traditionally brings with it spectacular fireworks displays. While visually impressive, these celebrations often have unintended consequences, such as disturbing wildlife, contributing to air pollution, and posing fire hazards. As environmental awareness grows, there's a shift towards finding safer, more sustainable ways to celebrate. This guide offers a range of creative and eco-friendly alternatives to fireworks for welcoming the New Year, ensuring that your celebrations are not only memorable but also kind to our planet and its inhabitants. Exploring Creative and Sustainable Ways to Ring in 2024 without Fireworks 1. Theme-based Home Party Transform your home into a magical celebration space with a chosen theme. Consider superheroes or fairy tales for kids, and perhaps a nostalgic retro or glam theme for adults. Encourage guests to dress in theme-specific attire. Decorations and snacks tailored to your theme can elevate the experience. This personalized, home-based party offers a unique, intimate, and cost-effective way to usher in the new year. 2. Epic Movie Marathon Plan a movie marathon night with a specific theme like classic comedies, epic adventures, or family favorites. Set up a comfortable viewing area, either indoors with blankets and pillows or outdoors with a projector under the stars. Create a mix of films to cater to different age groups, ensuring everyone has a favorite to look forward to. Don't forget the popcorn machine and a snack bar to mimic a real cinema experience! Read more: 10 Foods to Eat for Good Luck in New Year 3. Culinary Delights: Cooking and Potluck Why not make the kitchen the heart of your New Year's celebration? Arrange a group cooking session where each participant can contribute to making a special dish. For a more relaxed approach, host a potluck dinner where everyone brings their signature dish. This not only makes for a diverse spread of culinary delights but also sparks conversations and recipe exchanges. Combine this with music, a dance area, and a storytelling corner to reminisce memories, experiences, and adventures. 4. Competitive Game Night Organize a game night featuring a variety of games – from classic board games and card games to interactive video games and outdoor sports if weather permits. Tailor the game selection to suit all ages and interests, ensuring everyone has a chance to participate. Offer small prizes for winners to add an extra layer of excitement to the competition. 5. Showcase of Talents: Music, Dance, and More Create a home concert or talent show where guests can perform their favorite songs, dance routines, or even magic tricks. This is a great opportunity for everyone, especially children, to showcase their talents and enjoy the spotlight. You can also curate playlists for a dance party, ensuring there’s something for every musical taste. Read more: IGP calls for flawless security over Christmas and New Year

The newly launched metro rail services in Dhaka remained suspended for two hours on Sunday morning as a number of sky lanterns used for New Year celebrations fell on the electric rail lines. The metro rail authorities suspended the operation on safety ground from 8am, Managing Director (MD) of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MAN Siddique told UNB. Read more: Dhaka Metro Rail Uttara to Agargaon Route: A Detail Overview After cleaning the lanterns from the electric lines, the operation of metro rail resumed around 10 am, he added. Dhaka dwellers used firecrackers and flew sky lanterns (fanush) on 31st night despite Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) restrictions, causing disruption in metro rail service. The country’s commuting system entered a new era on December 28 last year as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the operation of the first phase of metro rail service -- Uttara to Agargaon in the capital. Read more: Long queues seen at Agargaon station as metro rail opens to public As the government is starting the operation on a limited scale, it will take 20 minutes to travel the 11.73-Km distance from Uttara to Agargaon, but soon it will come down to 16-17 minutes. Bangladesh is the third country in South Asian region to have metro rail after India and Pakistan. India introduced its first 3.4km underground metro rail in Kolkata in 1984 while Pakistan launched its mostly-elevated metro line in Lahore in October, 2020.

Boisabi Utsab, the biggest traditional festival of tribal people, has been cancelled in the wake of 2nd wave of Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. Boisabi celebration usually begins on April 12 but this year the celebration committee has cancelled all kinds of events to contain the recent surge in coronavirus cases. Intu Moni Chakma, member secretary of Biju, Baisu, Sangraing, Bishu-2021 celebration committee, said, "We are cancelling  all our events as per the government order due to the corona situation." All events that will create public gatherings have been canceled but the publication will be released, he added. Tripura Welfare Foundation President Suresh Tripura said like the previous year no festival will be held this year. “As per the government instructions we have suspended all kinds of ceremonies, including floating flowers in the river for mother Ganges,” he further said. The word Boisabi is a combination of the Bengali acronyms for various indigenous festivals like Boishuk for the Tripura community people, Sangrai of the Marma community, and Bizu for the Chakma community. Also read: Boisabi Utsab begins in Rangamati On the first day of the festival, people float flowers in rivers or spring water and take bath seeking divine blessings for their peace and prosperity. Every year 13 ethnic communities living in Rangamati celebrate  festivals centering Biju, Sangrai, Baisuk, Bishu, Bihu, Jol Utsab and Bengali New Year. Various sports event and cultural programs are arranged from April 9. Covid-19 cases has been soaring in an alarmingly in Bangladesh  rate for the past few weeks and the government on Saturday announced that it is set to enforce a 7-day lockdown from  Monday to stem the spread of Covid-19.