Students condemn renaming of ‘Mongol Shobhajatra’

The left-wing student organisations have expressed their "anger" over the renaming of the major events marking the Bengali New Year, the Mongol Shobhajatra to “Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra”.

Describing the change as a 'bad omen' for free cultural practice, they said it was the interim government's 'surrender' to 'communal groups'.

At the same time, they urged the authorities to reverse the decision to change the name.

On Friday, the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University, Azharul Islam, announced the decision to change the name of the procession to 'Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra'. This was immediately met with widespread criticism on social media.

The the Socialist Students' Front said in a statement, 'Renaming the Mongol Shobhajatra in bowing to the arrogance of communal-fundamentalist groups is a bad omen for the free cultural practice of the country. This procession, which began with the torch of rebellion against the autocratic Ershad, gradually brought the entire public together. The procession is a unique reflection of secular Bangladesh, where we have witnessed the spontaneous participation of all religions, castes and races without distinction.'

'On the contrary, we have also seen repeated examples of the arrogance of various fundamentalist forces and the attempts of the ruling class to undermine its public character through cunning and control. During the past authoritarian regime, we have also seen the rebel character of this procession being stolen.'

'From the beginning, we have seen the government blatantly interfering in this independent organization of the students and teachers of the Faculty of Fine Arts, which has never happened before. This latest decision to change the name is also part of that interference and a reflection of the populist politics of the interim government.'

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Student Union has rejected the change and called for the procession to be called 'Mongol Shobhajatra' everywhere.

A press release said, 'The change in the name of the New Year's procession 'Ananda Shobhajatra' will be rejected and we will continue to refer to it as Mongol Shobhajatra everywhere. In any situation, the administrative decision loyal to the fascist communal mob will be resisted.'

They rejected the renaming of the procession and said, 'The Mongol Shobhajatra, a tool of cultural protest against the evil forces of tyranny, fell victim to government interference during the Awami regime. The current administration is seen walking with that mischief on its shoulders.'

They called for a united resistance to stop the "anti-people plan to establish administrative and state authority over the Mongol Shobhajatra by taking away the authority of the students."