Bangladesh: Petitioner moves HC to ban Baishakh procession

Dhaka [Bangladesh], April 6 (ANI): The UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage event of Bangladesh is facing fresh fire after a petition was filed to ban 'Mangal Shobhajatra' procession during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations, calling it a threat to communal harmony and hurting majority religious sentiments, BD News 24 reported on Sunday.

According to BD News 24, Supreme Court lawyer Mahmudul Hassan filed a petition seeking permanent ban on the 'Mangal Shobhajatra' procession during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations--calling the decades old tradition, "artificial", "contrary to religious faith".

The Supreme Court lawyer said that the event threatens communal harmony, public safety, and national stability by hurting majority religious sentiments.

Lawyer Mahmudul Hassan moved the High Court on Sunday, naming the secretaries of the ministries of culture, religion, and home affairs, the Dhaka deputy commissioner, the Dhaka University vice-chancellor, and the dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts as respondents, it was reported.

Calling the procession not an ancient Bengali tradition but rather a "modern creation" started in 1989 under the name "Anondo Shobhajatra", the petitioner argued that the practice of parading large replicas of birds, fish, and animals to seek "well-being" (Mangal) contradicts Islamic beliefs, as Muslims believe such blessings should only be sought from God.

Previously after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh, the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus had dropped the word "Mangal" (auspicious) from the name of the procession, the Bangladeshi ourtlet reported.

Meanwhile, for the 1433 Bengali New Year set to be observed in just a few days, Dhaka University announced on March 30 that the event would be held as "Anondo Shobhajatra".

The iconic procession gained international status in 2016 when UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The change sparked a social media backlash and prompted a response from Culture Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury.

While the minister said there was "no need" to change the name during the interim period, he later clarified that the official title for this year's event would simply be "Baishakhi Shobhajatra".

As the government navigates with the nomenclature, the petitioner is seeking a court order to restrain the authorities from organising, approving, or promoting the procession in any form, BD News 24 said. (ANI)

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