Bangladesh’s Minister of Cultural Affairs Nitai Roy Chowdhury announced that the traditional Mongol Shobhajatra, organized annually by the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, will now be known as ‘Boishakhi Shobhajatra’. The decision was revealed on Sunday during a press conference on the upcoming Bengali New Year and related festivities of ethnic communities including Chakma, Marma, Tripura, and Garo. The minister said the government reached this decision to resolve long-standing debates over the procession’s name.

He explained that Pahela Baishakh represents joy and well-being, rooted in Bangladesh’s agrarian heritage. The new name aims to preserve cultural unity while avoiding confusion and division. The procession will continue to feature diverse regional traditions, folk art, and music. Chowdhury also assured that UNESCO’s recognition of the event would remain unaffected, as the government will simply notify the organization of the name change.

The minister added that daylong cultural programs will be held at Ramna Batamul and other venues, with maximum security measures in place. He urged citizens to celebrate responsibly and uphold national unity through cultural diversity.