The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

With the slogan of 'Save Dhaka’s lifeline, the River Buriganga,’ Dhakabashi, an old town-based organisation, and the Committee of the Observance of 400 years of Dhaka jointly brought out a colourful procession and held a rally titled 'Eid Ananda Michhil’ in the city on Friday.

People of all ages in their traditional dresses joined the rally on the premises of the Bangladesh Shishu Academy and later paraded the main streets, carrying banners and festoons.

The colourful rally, marked by balloons, festoons and music, started from Shishu Academy and ended at the Hazaribagh Park bypassing the Central Shaheed Minar in the city.

The Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury was present as chief guest at the rally. President of Workers Party Rashed Khan Menon, General Secretary of Bangladesh Communist Party Mujahidul Islam Selim, former chairman to the Privatisation Commission Inam Ahmed Chowdhury,Adviser of Dhakabasi Nagina Chowdhury, former MP Harun-ur-Rashid, Secretary General of the National Youth Organisation Dulal Biswas, President of Dhakabasi Md Shukur Salek, among others, attended the rally.

Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury said, The 400-year anniversary of Dhaka city will be celebrated in December.

The Cultural Affairs Ministry has already formed a preparatory committee in this regard. A preparatory meeting for the official anniversary celebrations was held last month chaired by the DCC Mayor. The committee will meet after the Eid holiday with all concerned stakeholders in organising the celebrations.”

Earlier, addressing the rally, speakers said the River Buriganga was now nearly dead with no apparent flow due mainly to non-stop disposal of the industrial wastes into it.

They urged the Government and all concerned organisations to help remove all illegal establishments along the two banks of the river.

They also called upon the Government to preserve and restore the old heritage and structures at Shakharibazar, establish playground in each ward of the city and solve all problems facing the capital.

The organisers announced that a festival titled 'Dhaka Youth Cultural Festival’ will be held in the first week of November.