The country is celebrating Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year 1425, on Saturday upholding the rich cultural values and rituals of the Bangalis to find out their root and march forward to build a prosperous Bangladesh.
Pahela Baishakh is one of the most colourful festivals through which the Bangalis bid farewell to the old year and welcome the New Year.
On this occasion, people from all walks of life wear traditional Bengali dresses. Young women wear white sarees with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles, flowers, and tips, while men wear white pyjamas and panjabi or kurta.
The government has drawn up an elaborate programme. The traditional Mongol Shovajatra brought out at divisional, district and upazila levels to reach the traditional programme to the grassroots as it earned the international recognition.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the countrymen on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh.
In separate messages on the eve of Pahela Baishakh-1425, they wished peace, happiness and prosperity of the people and the country in the New Year.
The President, in his message, said Bangla Nababarsha is a universal and non-communal cultural festival of the Bengali nation for a long.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the nation starts the first day of Bengali New Year with the hope of progress of life forgetting all shortcomings and sorrows.
She wished that the Bengali New Year 1425 would bring happiness, peace and progress for the country.
The day is a public holiday.