Country to move forward in New Year: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed her firm optimism that Bangladesh will continue its march forward in the new year.

"Bangladesh will make further progress in Bangla Nababarsha by removing all the wastes and trashes of the past year, and the people of the country will have a much more beautiful life, Insha Allah," she hoped.

The Prime Minister expressed her optimism while exchanging greetings with a cross-section of people, including leaders and workers of her party, at the lawn of Ganobhaban on the occasion of Bangla New Year 1424.

She reiterated her determination to build a hunger- and poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "We have the firm belief that we’ll achieve the goal."

Greeting the country’s people as well as the Bangalees living across the world, the Prime Minister wished that the Bengali New Year will bring happiness, peace and progress for all.

Pointing to celebrations of the first day of the Bangla New Year at Ganobhaban in a very festive mood, the Prime Minister said, "The Nababarsha function got a new dimension with it."

Earlier, on her arrival at the venue around 10.30 am, the Prime Minister was greeted with bouquets by the central leaders of Bangladesh Awami League, when Rabindranath Tagore's famous Baishakhi song ‘Esho Hey Baishakh Esho Esho’ was sung by artistes Subir Nandi, Lily Islam, Shama Rahman and others.

She also enjoyed a cultural programme where artistes presented traditional folk songs, patriotic songs, Bhawaiya, Tagore songs, Nazrul songs, songs of Hasan Raza and Rajanikanta as well as dance ghting Bangalees' rich culture and tradition.

Subir Nandi, Lily Islam, Shama Rahman, Dinat Jahan Munni, Shabnam Sheuli, Fakir Mandal and other eminent singers of the country performed songs on the occasion.

The cultural programme ended with famous Tagore song ‘Ananda Loke Mangol Aloke’ sung by Awami League leaders. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also sang with them.

On the occasion, the guests were entertained with traditional Bangalee foods like moa, murki, muroli, kadma, zilapi, and other sweetmeats.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Minister for Housing and Public Works Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Awami League Presidium Members Muhammad Faruk Khan and Dr Abdur Razzak, Awami League Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, organising secretaries AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Ahmed Hossain, Publicity Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, Law Secretary Abdul Matin Khasru, Chief Whip of Jatiya Sangsad ASM Feroz were, among others, present.