Rajshahi University ready for Pahela Baishakh

Teachers and students of Rajshahi University (RU) are ready to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year 1420.

Yesterday on campus, students and cultural activists were seen busy painting images and making masks -- featuring traditional motifs and symbols.

An air of festivity is prevalent at the Fine Arts department, as its students have been busy over the week in preparations for the biggest festival on the Bengali calendar.

The Fine Arts department will also hold a three-day Baishakhi fair featuring art and crafts exhibition and cultural programmes at Charukala Chatter. Popular gambhira songs will certainly add to the attraction, said Shipon Ahmed, a student of the department.

Meanwhile, the Management Studies department will organise a cultural event at Shabash Bangladesh Chattar on the campus while the Marketing department and its cultural organisation Bibartan will jointly celebrate Pahela Baishakh through a concert, an organiser of the department said.

Drama and Music, and Law departments will also hold cultural programmes on the campus.

The Pharmacy department will organise a cartoon exhibition at the Physics department premises.

The departments of Public Administration, and Mass Communication and Journalism have already completed their preparations for the big occasion. They will arrange a rally and daylong cultural programmes.

Badhon and Swajan, two voluntary blood donation organisations, of the university, will arrange a Panta and Pitha festival to celebrate Pahela Baishakh.

Kendriyo Sangskritik Jote will organise two-daylong cultural functions at the old folklore ground to mark the day while the Group of Liberal Debaters will arrange a mock teacher-student debate at the same venue.