Prominent citizens condemn ‘communal attempts to undermine’ Pahela Baishakh celebrations
The signatories noted that Pahela Baishakh is a secular cultural tradition observed by people of all communities for centuries and has no religious conflict
Eighteen prominent citizens have issued a joint statement condemning recent attempts by "extremist communal groups to incite controversy" over the traditional celebrations of Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year.
In the statement, the signatories expressed deep concern at what they described as a deliberate effort to provoke unrest by questioning aspects of the celebration, including dress codes and procession banners.
"Such statements and threats are reminiscent of the extremist acts of the 1950s and 60s," the statement read.
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The signatories noted that Pahela Baishakh is a secular cultural tradition observed by people of all communities for centuries and has no religious conflict.
They accused certain individuals and institutions, including the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Dhaka University authorities, of indirectly supporting these communal narratives.
They also pointed out that indigenous communities mark this season with their own festivals and that all such celebrations together represent national unity. Attempts to disrupt these events, they said, were unacceptable.
The statement urged the interim government and law enforcement bodies to take firm legal action against anyone attempting to restrict or provoke resistance to Pahela Baishakh festivities.
The citizens also expressed solidarity with the National Poetry Council's earlier protest and five-point demand against communal provocations.
Signatories to the statement are: Sultana Kamal, human rights activist and former adviser to the caretaker government; Khushi Kabir, coordinator, Nijera Kori; Iftekharuzzaman, executive director, Transparency International Bangladesh; Shamsul Huda, executive director, Association for Land Reform and Development; Perween Hasan, vice chancellor, Central Women's University; Professor Samina Luthfa, Dhaka University (DU); Professor Zobaida Nasreen, Department of Anthropology, DU; Professor Khairul Chowdhury, DU; Tasneem Siraj Mahboob, associate professor, Department of English, DU; Advocate ZI Khan Panna, chairperson, Ain o Salish Kendra; Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Supreme Court; Advocate Tabarak Hussain, Supreme Court; Pavel Partha, writer and researcher; Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director, COAST Foundation; Manindra Kumar Nath, acting general secretary, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council; Advocate Minhazul Haque Chowdhury, Supreme Court; Sayeed Ahmed, human rights activist; and Hana Shams Ahmed, indigenous rights activist.
