Noor for making it more ceremonious

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor yesterday said the government would expand the traditional Mongol Shovajatra, a procession brought out on the first day of Bangla New Year, at town and village levels to make the tradition more ceremonious and gorgeous.

“We are very proud as 'Mangol Shovajatra' gets Unesco recognition as world heritage. We will make the next year's Pahela Baishakh celebration with more mirth and merriment, marking the recognition,” he said.

The minister was addressing a programme organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University under the initiative of the cultural affairs ministry on the faculty premises.

DU Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Bangla Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan, Fine Arts Faculty Dean Prof Sheikh Afjal Hossain and one of the organisers of Mangal Shovajatra Shaheed Ahmed Mifu addressed the event with Cultural Affairs Secretary Aktari Mamtaz in the chair.