Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat has commented that it is undesirable and sad to ignore the instructions issued by the government in the interest of public safety.
The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting made this comment in his office room at the Secretariat on Monday (April 15) at noon.
He said that it was obstinate and sad that the Udichi artiste troupe ignored the directives issued by the government's security agency to ensure security on Pahela Boishakh. The government is very saddened and shocked by their behavior.
He also said that many people lost their lives and many were maimed in bomb blasts at Ramna Botmule and Udichi in Jashore on Pahela Boishakh. A number of police personnel sacrificed their lives and saved people's lives in preventing terrorist attacks by Eid Jamaat in Holy Artisan, Sholakia Maidan and Sylhet. As the government is always vigilant to ensure the safety of people's lives and property in every event, no terrorist attacks or terrorist incidents have occurred in Bangladesh in the recent past. The government seeks everyone's cooperation in this regard.
The Minister of State for Information said that Begum Khaleda Zia's government had obstructed the celebration of Bengal Centenary in 1993 in 1400 Bengal. Their ban was not for security reasons but to discourage this universal, non-communal Bengali festival. Awami League along with all the organizations that believe in the spirit of liberation war under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter and we all celebrated Pahela Baisakh at Suhrawardy Udyan.
The state minister said that it is the government's duty to provide security. I hope everyone will always cooperate in this matter so that the event of joy does not turn into sadness.
Questioning who would take the responsibility if any accident happens in the event that has been organized in violation of the government ban, the state minister further said, we think that those who will do the event without following the rules or instructions should take that responsibility.
Pointing out that the Pahela Boishakh was celebrated appropriately by the Awami League government, the state minister further said that the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has arranged Bengali New Year allowance for the Pahela Boishakh celebration. In 2016, the United Nations body UNESCO included Bangladesh's 'Mongol Shobhayatra' in the list of important intangible cultural heritage of the world following the request of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs during her government.