Dhaka Bureau: The notice has been sent to the Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, the Secretary of the Ministry of Religion, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka, and the Dean of the Fine Arts Faculty of Dhaka University (DU). Mahmudul Hassan.
The notice sent by registry post on Sunday said that Pahela Boishakh is an important part of Bengali culture. For thousands of years, Bengali people of different religions have been celebrating this Pahela Baisakh by respecting each other’s religion. But it is very unfortunate that an artificial activity by the name of the Mars procession has been inserted into the Pahela Baisakh of Bengali culture. Basically, Pahela Boishakh has nothing to do with this artificially invented Mars procession.
In 1989, a kind of padayatra called ‘Anand Shobhayatra’ was started on Pahela Baisakh. Later, Ananda Sobhayatra was named Mangal Sobhayatra.
The notice also said that the word ‘Mangal’ is a religious term. People of all religions pray ‘mangal’ to their creator. Now the religious sentiments of the Muslim people are being hurt by displaying sculptures of giant birds, fish, and various animals along with this Mars procession, which is a direct violation of Article 2 (a) of the Bangladesh Constitution. On the other hand, by displaying sculptures of giant birds, fish, and various animals in this Mars procession, the religious beliefs of the Muslim people are being openly hurt and the religion of Islam is being insulted, which is an offense punishable under Section 295 (A) of the Penal Code.
