Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus called upon everyone to not squander this opportunity of building a country free of discrimination.

The chief adviser began his speech wishing everyone 'Shubha Nababarsha', as 'happy new year' is said in Bangla.

He said in his brief three-minute speech that this was the first Pahela Baishakh (first day of the Bangla calendar) of the new Bangladesh. 

"Come, let us forget the shame, the pain, the ugly and the evil of the past, and march forward with renewed resolve and enthusiasm. Let us build a new Bangladesh."

Muhammad Yunus said the upsurge of 2024 has brought forth an opportunity to rid the new Bangladesh of discrimination. "Let us not squander this opportunity."

"Let it be this new year's resolution that we build a new Bangladesh free of discrimination," urged the chief adviser.

He began the speech noting that the Bangla calendar had begun in alignment with the crop cycle and farmers of Bangladesh still followed the Bangla calendar for farming purposes. 

The Nobel peace laureate noted said that Pahela Baishakh remained an integral part of Bangali heritage and culture, and further noted that it afforded everyone another opportunity to showcase Bangalee tradition and culture amid festivities.

Professor Yunus said the ethnic communities of the hills and the plains are celebrating this year's Chaitra Shankranti and Pahela Baishakh together.

Pahela Baishakh is a day of friendship and amity. "Today is a day to embrace everyone as our own."

He wished success to all initiatives for celebrating Pahela Baishakh and wished everyone Shubha Nababarsha and hoped that it would bring peace and prosperity for everyone in the brief three-minute speech broadcast earlier today.