You are wrong if you think that Mongol Shobhajatra began long ago. A group of students of Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University (DU) brought out the first colourful procession marking Pahela Baishakh in 1989.

Bangladesh Awami Olama League claims Pahela Baishakh celebration is ‘Haram’. So then, is our government upholding a ‘Haram’ culture as it is a public holiday? Are the 160 million Bangalis observing a Haram festival? How could one organisation openly declare this and walk away without any protest from any quarters or action from the government?

A Dhaka court sends Kamal Hossain, an arrestee of Pahela Baishakh sexual assault case, to jail after he refused to give confessional statement before a magistrate in connection with the sensational case.