Dhaka: The government is focused on turning Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, into a significant draw for tourism, aiming to showcase the unique festive spirit of Bangladesh on a global scale. ‘Bangladeshi people are inherently festive in nature. The way Pahela Baishakh is celebrated across the country with such enthusiasm and joy is truly exceptional and rare globally,’ said Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Nasreen Jahan.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the secretary made these remarks while inaugurating the “Baishakhi Celebration 1432 and Food Festival” at the Bangladesh National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI) in the capital’s Mohakhali. The event featured a showcase of 250 traditional Bangladeshi food items, served across 15 food stalls.
Jahan stressed the importance of spreading the message of Pahela Baishakh celebrations globally, aiming to transform the occasion into a symbol of harmony, unity, and heartfelt exchanges, breaking barriers of division and isolation among people.
Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) Saeyema Shahin Sultana presided over the event, which also saw attendance from Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Tourism Board Abu Taher Mohammad Jaber, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Abdun Naser Khan, and Anisur Rahman, among others.
The festival included cultural performances such as music, dance, and a fashion show, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the event stage.