Sohel Kanti Nath, Bandarban

Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, was celebrated in Bandarban on Monday (April 14) with vibrant cultural events and a grand Mangal Shobhajatra (auspicious rally).Organized by the Bandarban District Administration with support from the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, the day began with a colorful rally from the District Commissioner’s office premises. Prof. Thanzama Lusai, Chairman of the Hill District Council, inaugurated the rally as chief guest by releasing balloons into the sky.Among those present were Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ara Reni, Superintendent of Police Md. Shahidullah Kawser, and other senior administrative officials.The procession, showcasing the festive spirit of the region, paraded through key roads of the town and concluded at the Institute of Small Ethnic Groups. The rally featured participants from 11 different ethnic communities, including both hill people and Bengalis, adorned in their traditional attire and carrying banners, placards, and festoons—each group representing its unique cultural identity.Following the rally, a cultural program was held at the auditorium of the Ethnic Cultural Institute, where performers of all ages, both from indigenous and Bengali communities, enthralled the audience with traditional music and dance performances.In celebration of the New Year, members of various ethnic groups such as the Marma, Chakma, Tripura, and Tanchangya communities also engaged in traditional religious rituals and festivities, turning the entire district into a colorful mosaic of unity and heritage.