Dhaka: Bangladesh’s traditional Bengali New Year procession ‘Mangal Shobha Yatra’ has been renamed as ‘New Year’s Eve Parade’ after fundamentalist pressure. The grand procession organised by Dhaka University’s Fine Arts Faculty, which was included in UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage in 2016, will now be celebrated with the new name. The change came during the interim government after the fall of the Hasina government due to objections from fundamentalists who consider it against Islam by linking it to Hinduism.

Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim, leader of the Bangladesh Islamic Movement, said, “The recognition of profit from the procession is a sin in Islam. Things like idols should be abolished.” The university administration argued that it was a return to the old name ‘Anand Shobha Yatra’, which started in 1989. But local resident Rashida Begum said, “This is an attack on our cultural identity. Changing the name will not erase the tradition.” The change reflects the growing religious tension in Bangladesh. The procession, which starts with the shadow dance of Ramna and goes to Shahbagh, has been a symbol of Bengali culture. This event raises questions about cultural and religious coexistence in the country.