The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Young and old alike observed The World Friendship Day yesterday amid fanfare throughout the country as elsewhere around the world.

Youths and students of different educational institutions in the city celebrated the day by exchanging flowers and other attractive gifts among them.

A large number of young couples in the city huddled at the celebration hubs on Dhaka University campus, Ramna Park and other places from early morning until well into night.

There were hardly any space to walk down the roads on and around the Dhaka University campus as people, in colourful dresses, moved about in the afternoon.

'Friends to All,' 'Friendship with Everybody' with these messages, the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka Univesity celebrated the day with various programmes.

Students of Dhaka University enjoyed the occasion very much by singing, dancing and swapping attractive gifts with their friends. Youths, particularly girls, were seen carrying roses in their hands to give their dearest ones. The resonance of 'Happy Friendship Day!' was very common on the campus as hundreds of male and female youths swarmed here yesterday. Teachers and former students of the DU also thronged the campus to celebrate the day.

Celebration of the World Friendship Day came about in almost all the countries of the world following the idea that "You cannot choose your relatives but you can choose your friends."

The US Congress proclaimed the first Sunday of August as the National Friendship Day in 1935. Since then, the day is being observed with festivity around the world.