Baishakh Celebrations: DU Fine Arts 26th batch won’t be a part of it

The 26th batch of the Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts yesterday said they will not take part in this year’s Pahela Baishakh celebrations.

In a statement, they alleged that this year’s organising committee had sidelined the batch that was supposed to organise the event.

Sudipta Basak Arnob, a student from the Department of Oriental Art, told The Daily Star that in previous years, the outgoing batch was responsible for organising the Mangal Shobhajatra, but this year, students have been completely sidelined.

He claimed that the batch has been excluded from the organising committee, with only a handful of teachers overseeing the festival.

Traditionally, both students and faculty members organise the celebrations together, with funds coming from art sales and donations.

Students also alleged that the planning of the Mangal Shobhajatra has been politically motivated this year, particularly in the design and mural selections, including the mural of Abu Sayed, which sparked criticism on social media.

University authorities, however, argue that when a single batch manages the event, financial mismanagement and a lack of accountability often arise.

Prof Azharul Islam Sheikh, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, said the decisions regarding the celebrations were taken in three teacher-student meetings.

Moving forward, he said, the event will be integrated into academic activities and included in the syllabus. This change is intended to prevent conflicts arising from the involvement of a batch that has already graduated, he added.

“This event is part of our large-scale workshop. No single batch will be allowed to manage it exclusively,” he also said.