<i>Nababarsha celebrated</i>

The Ektara in the hand of a child seems to play a note on the arrival of Baishakh, the first month in Bangla calendar, linking up the younger mind to the age-old tradition. The photo was taken in Dhaka University area on Wednesday during Bangla New Year celebration. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Sending the setbacks of the preceding year to oblivion, the nation on Wednesday welcomed Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla year 1417, amid colourful festivity.
In the capital, however, a few incidents of harassment of women on Dhaka University campus in the late afternoon tainted the celebration.
People attired in traditional dresses, thronged Baishakhi Melas (fairs) -- showcasing various handicrafts and artefacts-- in the capital and elsewhere in the country.
Colourful rallies, music programmes, fairs and pitha (traditional Bangladeshi cakes) festivals added colour to the biggest carnival of the Bangalees.
The day was a public holiday. The Bangla year with its first month Baishakh was introduced during the rule of Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605AD).
The biggest cultural festival of the Bangalees began with Rabindranath Tagore's song “Esho hey Baishakh, Esho Esho” by the Chhayanaut artistes at the traditional venue of the carnival Ramna Batamul in the capital at sunrise.
Chhayanaut, a cultural organisation, has been organising the event for over the last three decades. It set up a huge stage for its trademark cultural programme that was witnessed by thousands as the artistes sang songs and recited poems.
Tight security measures were taken in and around the Ramna Park in the capital.
Thousands of people thronged Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka University, Shahbag, Dhanmondi Lake and other open spaces.
As the crowd turned into a human sea in the afternoon some unruly youths harassed over a dozen women.
Witnesses said the incidents mainly occurred in Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) area after the sunset when a music concert was on at the base of Raju Memorial.
The youths split in several groups beat people who came to victims' help.
Babu, a master's student of Bangla department of DU, said a group of 10-15 youths were trying to pull at the saree of a woman who came with her husband and four-year-old daughter behind Milon Chattor around 7:30pm.
“Her husband could hardly protect her from then youths,” Babu said adding that some DU students later rescued the victim.
Shah Alam, an employee of TSC, said he saw some youths harassing girls in front of Janata Bank on TSC building premises.
DU student Jashim Uddin had a more shameful story to tell. He along with his friends caught a youth red-handed while he was indecently assaulting a girl who was yelling out at the TSC entrance.
Some 10 to 15 youths encircled a girl near Daas Chattor. They were trying to give her forcible hugs around 8:00pm, said an eyewitness Mahfuzur Rahman.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Police Nurul Islam said they rescued 15 women and girls from TSC area fearing that they might become victim of physical harassment.
At least 20 people were injured in a clash between two groups of youths over harassing girls at a fair at Hatkhola Primary School in Gopalganj, reports a correspondent.
The crowd celebrating the New Year this year was more than the previous years in and outside the capital.
Braving scorching heat people came out of their homes early in the morning to celebrate the day. A section of them returned home late at night.
The decorated procession called Mongol Shobhajatra, featuring giant replicas of tiger, cat, owl, tortoise, elephant and huge colourful masks for the well-being of all, was brought out by the students of the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University.
Thousands of people joined the Shobhajatra dancing to the beats of traditional musical instruments.