Notre Dame University Bangladesh (NDUB) celebrated the coming of Baishakh by organizing a day-long programme titled ‘Baishakhi Mela’ on 30 April.
Through separate activities the students welcomed the Baishakh and the Bengali year 1426, the first of which was a peace rally. The chief guest of the programme was Vice-Chancellor (VC) of NDUB Professor Dr Fr Patrick Daniel Gaffney, CSC.
The peace rally started at 12:30pm from the campus. The students ceremoniously participated in the rally.
The VC was accompanied by the treasurer, departmental chairs of various departments, proctor, HR director, faculty members, and administration staff.
After the completion of the rally the students along with the guests enjoyed the cultural programme.
The VC presented his welcome speech, in which he said, “Just as there is a significance of the beginning of the English New Year through the month of January there is a significance of the Bengali New Year through the month of Baishakh. Not only in Bangladesh but all over the world there are many people who celebrate the coming of this month. I wish for all a happy, well and prosperous life in this new year.”
Registrar of NDUB Fr Adam S Pereira, CSC said, “Although today is the 16th of Baishakh according to the Bengali calendar, as there was the final examination of the trimester being held at the time we were unable to organize a programme at the proper time. New Year celebration is not only a matter of upholding our heritage. Pahela Baishakh is a day of universal celebration.
It is the beginning of a new year for all the Bengali speaking people around the world. We will learn from our mistakes in the previous year and go forward with new zeal. Let this be our resolution in the Bengali New Year.”
From 3:30pm to 6:30pm there was a cultural program where the students enjoyed songs performed by Chisty Baul and Eliza Putul.
The whole NDUB campus was decorated with a festive entourage the coordination of which was undertaken by Fr Edmun Cruze, CSC, Student counselor and director, Maintenance, Theodore Sourav Palma, lecturer, Department of English and Tama Chowdhury Tuli, lecturer, Department of Business Administration.
