DHAKA — Pohela Boishakh is a unique symbol of Bangladesh’s national history, culture and identity, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said.
“This day returns to our lives every year through the centuries, bringing the call of the new. The arrival of a new year leaves behind old weariness and disappointment, and inspires us to move forward,” he said.
Tarique Rahman issued the message on Monday, April 13, on the eve of Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year. He extended greetings to the people of Bangladesh and to Bengali speakers worldwide, bidding farewell to the year 1432 and welcoming 1433.
“Pohela Boishakh is closely linked to the agriculture, nature and farm-based economy of our region. Even in this golden age of information technology, the farmer sets his sowing calendar in tune with nature. The thousand-year traditions, folk culture and values of Bengal are renewed each year through Pohela Boishakh,” he said.
He said the Boishakhi fair, the Boishakhi procession and the traditional Halkhata ledger-opening ceremony reflect the multi-faceted beauty of the country’s culture and reinforce a sense of unity. The Bengali New Year, he said, has brought new hopes and possibilities, and the renewal of nature combined with people’s inner optimism creates a vibrant, festive atmosphere.
The prime minister said a new democratic government took office after the Feb. 12 national elections, following the end of nearly a decade and a half of what he called fascist rule. He said the government had begun implementing programs to improve the living standards of people across all classes and professions.
He said the government had already launched family cards, sports cards and a canal-excavation program, along with financial assistance for imams, muezzins, khatibs and religious leaders of other faiths. A farmer card program also began on the first day of the Bengali New Year, in keeping with the festival’s connection to farming and the agricultural economy. The farmer card, he said, would play a transformative role in Bangladesh’s agriculture in the years ahead.
He expressed hope that the religious and social values of the Bangladeshi people, and the tolerance, generosity and harmony within their culture, would further strengthen democracy and safeguard pluralism.
“The world today is troubled by various crises and conflicts. In this context, the practice of peace, empathy and mutual respect has become even more essential. On this auspicious occasion of the new year, let us pledge to rise above narrowness and selfishness, and walk the path of human welfare. On the first dawn of the new year, let us resolve to move forward with new energy, leaving behind all past frustrations and limitations,” he said.
The prime minister said he hoped the new year would bring happiness, peace and prosperity into every life, and once again extended his greetings to the people of the country.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report