It is heartening that people from all sections of life ringed in Bengali New Year 1429 with a renewed hope of building a better and non-communal Bangladesh. We certainly can take pride in the fact that celebration of Pahela Baishakh is a reflection of our own culture. It is neither imported nor can it be termed communal. Moreover, the fact is Baishakhi celebration is growing in popularity in the face of threat from religious bigots and foreign cultural aggression as well.

Bengali New Year celebration is the biggest cultural festival of the country, and the celebration of the day in a grand manner is a sign of our national unity.  On this day, we the Bangladeshis, irrespective of our difference in faith, ideology, class and caste, converge on the basis of cultural harmony to usher in the Bangla Nabobarsho. Therefore, it characterises us as a secular and pluralist society.

We must stand united against the evil force. We must not forget that darkness of the evil force is rooted in ignorance and wrong ideology. Their ignorance can only be removed through wisdom, as the saying goes ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.’

Therefore, apart from vigil from law enforcers, it is necessary to confront the fundamentalists socially and culturally, because they are misinforming the common people and derailing many of them. We have to drive home the message of the importance of having a secular and pluralist society.

Source: Sun Editorial