Dhaka, 15 April 2025: Pohela Boishakh celebrations in Bangladesh are marred by controversy this time. Banners and festoons put up to welcome the New Year in Chittagong were torn on Sunday night, after which the United Pohela Boishakh Festival Council canceled all programs. After the attack, the police arrested seven people, but the incident fueled fears of growing religious radicalism in the country. Meanwhile, writer Taslima Nasreen targeted interim government chief advisor Mohammad Yunus, saying, “Sheikh Hasina was aware of Yunus’ evil, but perhaps not so much.” Her comments focused on the growing influence of Islamic extremism.
Taslima criticized the Yunus government on social media, claiming that the radicalism that began during Hasina’s tenure is raising its head under Yunus’ leadership. Noor Islam, a social activist from Dhaka, said, “Cultural festivals like Pohela Boishakh are a symbol of our unity. Attacks on them are worrying.” Events like Mangal Shobha Yatra in Bangladesh, which are UNESCO cultural heritage sites, are now under question. This incident raises serious questions about social harmony and cultural freedom in the country.