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Nababarsha today

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Millions of Bangalees home and the world over today welcome Nababarsha or Bangla year 1410.
Like every year, massive preparations have been taken to celebrate the Pahela Boishakh, the first day of the first month of the Bangla calendar, amid festivities and fanfare.
Wearing punjabi, pyjama and sari men, women and children will throng traditional Boishakhi Mela (fair) and cultural functions in the capital and elsewhere. Various handicrafts, artefacts and sweetmeats will be also up for sale.
Bangla dishes such as panta bhat (fermented rice), Hilsa curry, dal will be prepared in almost all Bangalee household.
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The day is a public holiday. With the break of the daylight, artistes of Chhyanaut will gather at the Ramna Batamul and sing the all familiar Tagore song "Esho he Boishakh esho esho…" that literally welcomes the New Year.
A blanket of tight security will be thrown over the lush green Ramna Park and the areas close by to avert untoward incidents.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken "foolproof security" measures to ensure unhindered celebrations of Pahela Boishakh in the capital.
Around 3,000 law enforcers, including members of the Detective Branch and Rapid Action Team (RAT), plain-clothesmen and horse-mounted police, will be deployed in the city.
The Ramna Park has been divided into eight blocks and people will be screened before entry with metal detectors and video cameras installed at all the entrances, police officials said. Besides, all important points, including Ramna, will be swept by the dog squads, according to sources.
The students of the Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University will bring out a rally with the revellers wearing colourful masks.
The Bangla Year was introduced during the rule of Emperor Akbar for convenience of tax collection. In keeping with the tradition, traders and shopkeepers will open halkhata (fresh account book) and offer sweets to their clients and visitors.
Different socio-cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to celebrate the day.
The Ministry of Culture and Bangla Academy's programme will begin at 8:00am on the academy premises. The daylong programmes will include cultural function and discussion.
Shilpakala Academy and Nazrul Institute will arrange special cultural show at the Public Library Auditorium in the evening.
Archaeological Department, National Archive and National Folk Arts Foundation will hold a daylong exhibition of historic documents and artefacts in the Bangla Academy premises.
Nagar Samajik O Sanskritik Kendra, a socio-cultural organisation of the officials and employees of Dhaka City Corporation, will hold art and essay writing competitions for children at Nagar Bhaban at 9.30am.
Bulbul Lolitakola Academy will hold a cultural programme at the amphitheatre at Dhanmondi at 7:30 am. Nazrul Academy will also hold a cultural programme at Ramna Park.
Nilangona Palli will hold a fashion show titled "Swadeshi Poshak Utsab at
the Bakultala premises at the Fine Arts Institute at 4:00pm. Architecture Alumni Association of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) will hold a daylong programme on the BUET campus.
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, ORCA Blood for Life, Rotaract Club of Dhaka mid city and Quantum Foundation will organise separate blood donation programmes at the TSC, Ramna Park and Shishu Park gate areas.
Different electronic media including Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, ATN Bangla and Channel i will broadcast special programmes to mark the day. National dailies will publish special supplements.
President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed in a message wished the countrymen a happy and peaceful New Year. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in her message said the New Year came this year in a different scenario with war and confrontations reigning over the world.
She urged all to give up backwardlooking thoughts and take a new vision towards the future in order to accelerate national progress and achieve prosperity.
Opposition leader and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina in a message called upon the countrymen to resist "fresh threats and attacks" on culture to consolidate the nation's independence.
Hasina paid tributes to those killed in the Ramna Batamul bomb blasts while celebrating the Bengali New Year1408 and demanded completion of the trial of the killers.
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, indigenous people have already started celebrating the New Year with the colourful "Baishabi" festival.