This year’s Pohela Boishakh celebration is expected to be a grand, inclusive mass celebration, distinguishing itself from previous years.
The interim government has emphasized its commitment to ensuring the festivities unite people from diverse backgrounds.
However, the event has become clouded by controversy.
Many students from the University of Dhaka’s Faculty of Fine Arts have opted out of this year’s preparations.
Their absence stems from their rejection of the university authority’s decision to rename the traditional Pahela Boishakh procession.
Since 1989, students from the Faculty of Fine Arts have played a central role in organizing and curating this cultural tradition.
A group of students from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University, who were expected to organize this year’s procession, made several announcements during a press conference held on Sunday morning at the Charukola premises.
At the event, the students expressed their opposition to changing the name of the traditional procession.
Their stance comes in response to an announcement made just two days earlier, on Friday, during a press conference attended by senior officials of the Dhaka University administration.
It was declared that the name “Mongol Shobhajatra” would be replaced with “Borshoboron Anondo Shobhajatra.”The Charukola students, however, strongly rejected this decision.
“This decision is far from desirable—it was made without consulting the Fine Arts students, who are key contributors to the Baishakh celebrations,” said the protesting students in a written statement.
According to the students, a general meeting regarding the Boishakh preparations was held on March 13, during which this decision was communicated.
Furthermore, they criticized the teachers’ decision not to form batch-based organizing committees with mutual consent at the meeting.
“It’s easy to mislead such junior batches. Seeking opinions from students who haven’t had the chance to grasp the situation is nothing more than a farce. Senior batch students, including the 26th batch—who, by tradition, should have been this year’s organizing batch—were
notably absent from the meeting,” the protesting students said in their written declaration.
On the other hand, the university authorities maintain that student involvement in the celebration’s arrangements remains unchanged.
Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Azharul Islam Sheikh, told Dhaka Tribune: “As always, approximately 150 students are participating in the celebration arrangements.”
However, during a visit to the workspace on Saturday, this correspondent found no active participation from current students, except for two individuals who were seen working on a separate personal project.
Students criticize leadership
According to protesting students, this year’s leading teachers and organizers from the Faculty of Fine Arts are associated with the White Panel, a BNP-affiliated teachers’ organization.
The students claim that on March 27, they proposed creating a watermelon motif to express solidarity with Palestine, as the inclusion of contemporary issues has always been a tradition in designing motifs.
However, their proposal was denied. The authorities informed them that such an initiative would not be possible without government approval, and the project was subsequently abandoned.
Additionally, some students alleged that alumni of DU Fine Arts, who are now teaching at other universities, have been bringing their students to work on the arrangements.
As a result, it creates the impression that students are actively contributing to the celebration. Jahra Najifa, a 2020-21 student from the Printmaking Department, told the Dhaka Tribune that it is evident that most current students are not involved in this year’s Pohela Boishakh preparations.
An anonymous Fine Arts student from the 29th batch also said that the small group of students working on the event is affiliated with Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, which was previously linked to Bangladesh Chhatra League.
Academic credit for Boishakh celebrations
Protesting students have claimed that during the previous regime, Professor Nisar Hossain, the then-Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, had attempted to integrate Boishakh celebrations into academic credit.
However, this move faced strong opposition from Fine Arts students, who spontaneously organized protests against the idea, ultimately preventing its implementation.
Following the July uprising, teachers are reportedly pushing to incorporate the celebrations into academic courses as a two-credit core module, despite ongoing student resistance.
When asked why this integration poses an issue, a 26th-batch Fine Arts student told the Dhaka Tribune anonymously that the preparation for Boishakh celebrations has always been a spontaneous workshop.
“There is no feasible way to evaluate this work as academic credit because it is inherently non-structured. Academic integration would eliminate the spontaneity that defines it,” the student explained.
Another student, Nova Zaman, expressed concerns that such a move would place teachers in control of the entire process since they supervise academic curriculums.
“This would force students to be involved in the work process, even if they’re unwilling,” she added.
On the other hand, university authorities have defended the proposal.
They argue that the Pohela Boishakh arrangements should be merged with academic activities, considering the event spans 15-20 days and disrupts regular faculty schedules.
Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Azharul Islam Sheikh, shared his perspective with the Dhaka Tribune: “This is an educational institution above all else. Incorporating our biggest workshop into the academic curriculum would be the pragmatic approach.”
Uncredited inspiration sparks artist’s concern
Allegations have also surfaced that the authorities did not consult or seek permission from the original artist whose cartoon inspired the “face of fascism” motif.
Jahid Jamil, a student from the 2015-16 session of the Oriental Art Department, claimed that the motif was derived from one of his cartoons, which he posted on July 18.
Despite this, he was neither informed nor asked for consent regarding the use of his work as inspiration.
“It’s deeply frustrating and disheartening for artists—those of us who practice art—to encounter such situations,” he expressed, reflecting on the lack of communication.
