For the second year in a row, Pahela Boishakh celebrations remained muted across Bangladesh due to the lockdown enforced by the government to curb the rising cases of Covid-19. All television channels aired a special programme on Wednesday morning as people stayed indoors on the first day of the Bangla calendar. Pahela Boishakh is celebrated every year in Bangladesh on April 14. But this year, all programmes have been cancelled to avoid mass gatherings in a bid to break the chain of the virus transmission. Pahela Boishakh celebrations have become an integral part of the Bangalis since it began more than six centuries ago. Mughal Emperor Akbar introduced the Bangla calendar in the year 1556 of the Gregorian calendar in a bid to streamline the timing of land tax collection in the then ‘Subah Bangla’ region, much of which now falls in Bangladesh. Also read :Online celebrations of Pahela Baishakh continue under shutdown The day is a public holiday. Renowned cultural organisations and institutions, including Chhayanaut, the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA) of Dhaka University, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) and Liberation War Museum Bangladesh (LWM), have all lined up online events to welcome the new year 1428. The marquee events of the day -- the traditional Borsho-Boron programme by Chhayanaut and the Mangal Shobhajatra parade by FFA, Dhaka University -- have all been cancelled. Both Chhayanaut and FFA broadcast pre-recorded programmes on national TV. First observed in 1989 by FFA as a colourful procession celebrating the Bengali New Year with the participation of people from all walks of life, the annual Mangal Shobhajatra received the recognition of UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage on November 30, 2016. Also read: Coronavirus: Chhayanaut cancels Pahela Baishakh programme at Ramna Unfortunately, the plan to organise the event this year had to be shelved this year due to the Covid pandemic.  "Initially, the Dhaka University authorities decided to arrange a symbolic event on the FFA premises on Pahela Boishakh, as it has always been culturally very significant and this year marks the Golden Jubilee of our Independence. As per the government's lockdown restrictions, we pre-recorded a symbolic Mangal Shobhajatra for 1428 with the participation of our State Minister for Cultural Affairs and fewer than 20 people, showcasing our banner and 100 prop items made by our students and teachers, including face shields and masks," Nisar Hossain, Dean of the FFA, told UNB on Tuesday. On Monday, Chhayanaut general secretary Laisa Ahmed Lisa said, “As we could not celebrate Pahela Boishakh 1427, we had been preparing to organise the programme this year without the crowd at the venue. But sadly this time too, we have decided to broadcast this year’s event on Bangladesh Television (BTV)." “The programme showcase a compilation of some of the new and previous performances of Chhayanaut artistes, and this year we are featuring performances focusing on the Golden Jubilee of our glorious Independence. Apart from BTV, Chhayanaut will also broadcast the programme on its YouTube Channel Chhayanaut Digital - Platform," she added. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) also broadcast a live webinar and cultural programme on its official Facebook page and YouTube channel, which was joined by former Cultural Affairs Minister and eminent thespian Asaduzzaman Noor. BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky presidedbover the virtual event, which was also be joined by prominent educator Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam, Nazrul Sangeet maestro Khairul Anam Shakil, folk singer Akramul Islam and Rabindra Sangeet singer Lily Islam. Liberation War Museum and Wrishiz Shilpi Goshthi also held online programmes on Facebook on the occasion. This year, April 14 also marks the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in Bangladesh and some other Muslim countries in the world. On the occasion, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate massages greeting the countrymen and all Bangla-speaking people across the globe. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged everyone to follow health guidelines and celebrate Pahela Boishakh at home, in the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases. "We have to remember that the lives of the people come first. If (we) survive, we’ll be able to rearrange everything," she said, while addressing the nation on the eve of Pahela Boishakh.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged everyone to follow health guidelines and celebrate Pahela Boishakh at home when the nation enters a strict weeklong lockdown to contain the upsurge of coronavirus transmission. "We have to remember that the lives of the people come first. If (we) survive, we’ll be able to rearrange everything," she said while addressing the nation on the eve of Bengali New Year, Pahela Boishakh. State-owned Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television (BTV) simultaneously broadcasted her address. Private television channels and radio stations also aired the Prime Minister’s speech. She also urged the countrymen not to be panicked at the second wave of covid-19 and assured that her government is always with them. She asked authorities concerned to take measures to provide necessary assistance to the poor and low-income people. In her roughly 13-minute speech, the Prime Minister said that the government has imposed some restrictions on the movement of people due to the second wave of coronavirus last week. She said the rise in cases compelled the government to take some tough measures following the advice of public health experts. The prime minister acknowledged that the strict measures could cause some issues for the livelihoods of many people. She reminded everyone that protecting the people's lives was the top priority. Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 69 more die, 6,028 infected Sheikh Hasina mentioned that last year everyone had to face various types of adverse situations after coronavirus hit. "As quarantine is one of the ways to resist this pandemic, for that we’ve to take some steps that had an impact on people's lives and livelihoods," she said. The four principles She said that last year the government imposed 62 days of general holiday. It is yet to open educational institutions. The Prime Minister said the situation was not unique to Bangladesh. “Such steps are being taken wherever the impact of this deadly virus is intensifying," she said. Along with saving people's lives, the Prime Minister said the government is keeping watch so that country's economy, lives and livelihoods of the people do not fall apart. “With cooperation from all we have taken some steps, as a result, last year we were able to face the coronavirus pandemic successfully,” she said. She said the government fixed four key activities last year to face the possible adverse impact of coronavirus. They were—increasing public expenditure prioritising employment generation; formulating stimulus package for reviving economic activities, keeping labours and workers in their jobs and keeping the competitiveness of the entrepreneurs. The other two are— expanding social safety net programmes for fulfilling the basic needs of people living under the poverty line, non-institutionally engaged and day labourers, and increasing money supply to overcome the adverse impact on the economy in a way there will be no inflation. “Our activities are continuing based on these four principles. We’ve already announced 23 stimulus packages of Tk 1,24,053 crore,” she said. Also read: Covid-19: Hasina for balancing livelihoods and public health ‘Don’t worry’ She also said that some 2.5 crore people have been brought under various government assistance programme apart from taking steps for uninterrupted production in mills and factories and increasing agricultural production. “There’s no need to be worried, the government is always beside you. I’ve taken steps for the poor and lower-income group after the second wave hit,” she said. In this regard, she said that the government allocated Tk 807.65 crore for employment generation in the rural areas and more than Tk 672 crore for Holy Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr. This will benefit 1,24,42,000 lower income group families. 5.6mln people received first dose Talking about the vaccine of coronavirus, Sheikh Hasina said that scientists have already invented some vaccines, Oxford-AstraZeneca is one of them. She also said that it was a matter of good luck that Bangladesh has been able to bring a sizeable number of doses at the beginning of the vaccine production. “In the meantime, more than 56 lakh people have been taken the first dose of the vaccine. Those who’ve taken the first dose are now taking the second dose. Gradually, we’ll bring everyone under the vaccine programme and we’ve the preparations,” she said. But she mentioned that the health experts said that there is no assurance that one will be fully protected from the virus after receiving the vaccine. “So, after taking the vaccine, we’ll have to maintain health guidelines too,” she said. Also read: Bangladesh begins second phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive Covid treatment facilities being increased The Prime Minister said that the area of coronavirus patient treatment has been further expanded in all districts including Dhaka. In the meantime, steps have been taken for uninterrupted oxygen supply in public specialised hospitals. Existing ICU facilities are being increased. She urged everyone to be careful and ensure protection for themselves, family members and neighbours. “So, gatherings have to be avoided and everyone should wear a mask when going outside. After returning home, one should get cleaned and take hot water vapour,” she said. “If everyone follows health guidelines, it’ll be possible to keep the pandemic under control, Inshallah,” she said. ‘Celebrate Pahela Boishakh digitally’ She also mentioned that era after era pandemic, storms, cyclones and calamities come, mankind has to survive facing all these. “The path of life is not smooth. The path may be tough enough [but] we’ve to make our advancement conquering that,” she said. Quoting some lines of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, the Prime Minister said that Bangalis are the victorious nation and they are surviving facing various adversities. Also read: Bangladesh’s complete lockdown set to begin on Apr 14; notification issued “Inshallah, we’ll face this coronavirus pandemic. In the new year our prayer to the Almighty is to save the world from this pandemic,” she said. The Prime Minister greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Bengali New Year and Holy Ramadan that fell on the same day this year. She also asked all to stay home. “Like the previous year, Bangalis will have to celebrate Pahela Boishakh festival through digital medium remaining at home,” she said.