, April 13 — Preparations for the ‘Ananda Shobhajatra’, a vibrant procession to welcome the Bengali New Year 1432, are in their final stages, according to organisers.
During a visit to Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts (Charukola) on Sunday, artists were seen working with great zeal and dedication.
The restoration of the partially burnt ‘Dove of Peace’ has been completed, and efforts are underway to remake a similar face structure symbolising fascism, which was also damaged in Saturday’s fire.
An effigy symbolising Sheikh Hasina’s fascism was set ablaze on Saturday at the Fine Arts Institute.
Crafted from bamboo and cane, the depiction portrayed a woman with a toothy grin, four horns on her head, a large nose, and two fearful eyes. The striking image led many to believe it resembled ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
On Saturday early morning, a fire broke out at the Fine Arts Faculty where the motifs were being made: the monstrous fascist face motif was completely burnt in the fire, while the dove of peace motif was also partially burnt.
In a Facebook post made Saturday morning, Cultural Affairs adviser Mostafa Sarwar Farooki condemned the incident and warned that those involved – regardless of political label – must face legal consequences.
They said the work will be completed before dawn tomorrow.
With the slogan ‘Symphony of New Year, End of Fascism’, the ‘Ananda Shobajatra’ will start tomorrow at 9 am from in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Preparations for the procession will begin at 8 am.
The procession will start from in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts and pass by Shahbagh intersection, TSC intersection, Shaheed Minar, Physical Education Centre, Doel Square, and end again at the Faculty of Fine Arts via the road in front of Bangla Academy.
To maintain discipline and beauty, entry into the procession will not be allowed from the sides. The authorities have requested everyone to join the procession from the end point.
On Pahela Boishakh, no kind of mask-wearing or carrying of bags will be allowed on the university campus.
However, masks prepared by the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts can be carried in hand and displayed.
The authorities asked people to end all types of New Year programs on campus by 5 pm tomorrow.
On the occasion of the New Year, from 7 pm this evening, no vehicles without a university sticker will be allowed to enter the campus.
On New Year’s Day, no type of vehicle will be allowed to run on the campus, and motorcycle riding is completely prohibited.
Any resident of the university campus may use only the gates near Nilkhet intersection and Palashi intersection for commuting with their own vehicles.