Chhayanaut vows to sing without fear this Pahela Baishakh

A hall full of students sat in attentive silence as the press conference opened with “Sedin Aar Koto Durey,” a song by Salil Chowdhury that has long carried the weight of resistance and longing.

At its cultural centre in Dhanmondi on April 12, Chhayanaut announced its Pahela Baishakh 1433 celebrations with a message that was both cultural and political. For the revered organisation the act of singing itself remains a form of defiance.

“We want to practise culture without obstruction,” said president Sarwar Ali, framing this year’s program at historical Ramna Batamul within a climate marked by uncertainty and past attacks on cultural institutions. Referring to recent incidents, including the 2024 attack on Chhayanaut, Udichi and other cultural spaces and media houses, he added, “We have faced planned repression from our inception as a nation. This is not something new to us and no matter what we will keep singing. In this situation, we want to sing freely. The state and society must stand aligned.”

His words carried a clear insistence: “We are hopeful about the security measures the law enforcers already assured us about. Whether there is support or not, we will continue to sing.”
General secretary Laisa Ahmed Lisa echoed the sentiment, describing the Bengali New Year as a moment of collective renewal. Drawing from the line “Chitto jetha bhoyshunno, uccho jetha shir” from Rabindranath Tagore, organisers positioned this year’s theme around fearlessness and dignity.

Vice-president Partha Tanvir Naved acknowledged concerns over safety but remained assured. “Security measures will be in place. We expect cooperation from law enforcement and the administration,” he said.

The traditional dawn programme will begin at 6:15am at Ramna Park, continuing a practice that dates back to 1967, when Chhayanaut first transformed Pahela Baishakh into a national cultural observance. Since then, the program has come to embody Bengali identity across religious and social lines.

This year’s two-hour programme will feature eight choral performances, fourteen solo songs, and two recitations, with around 200 performers participating. The repertoire will draw from nature, patriotism, and folk traditions, alongside tributes to Salil Chowdhury and composer Matlub Ali.

The event will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and Deepto TV, and streamed on platforms including Prothom Alo, bdnews24.com, and Chhayanaut’s official digital channels.
Vice-president Khairul Anam Shakil framed the program within a longer history of resistance. “Bengalis have always struggled to establish their identity. Attempts to silence us have never succeeded, and they will not now,” he said, referencing past attacks, including the 2001 Ramna Batamul bombing.

Read more

‘Khona’ marks 100th show with vibrant cultural festival