Fascism has no place in politics: Farooki

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki stated today that fascism is not part of political discourse, describing fascists as the "evil forces" of the nation. He emphasized that the Barshobaran Ananda Shubhajatra is a cultural celebration, not a political one, and the use of fascist masks this year was not meant to represent any political ideology.

"Barshobaran Ananda Shubhajatra is not a political programme," Farooki told journalists at the inauguration of the Noboborsho Ananda Shobhajatra-1432 at Dhaka University. "This year, we used the masks of fascists not because they are part of politics, but as a cultural expression to highlight the dangers they pose."

Farooki further explained that the inclusion of such symbols in the procession was not intended to promote any political agenda. "It is simply a cultural expression," he added, stressing that past associations of the event with political movements do not reflect its true essence.

In reference to previous political influences on the event, Farooki acknowledged, "In the past, certain political groups have tried to co-opt this cultural procession at Dhaka University for their own purposes, using it to undermine their political opponents."

Despite the procession's occasional political overtones, Farooki noted that this year's Noboborsho celebrations included historical elements from the Akbar era and the Sultanate period. However, he reiterated that there was no political intent behind these references, emphasizing the event's cultural significance.

On the topic of the event’s name, Farooki explained the evolution of the procession's title over the years. Initially called Ananda Shobhajatra in 1989, it was renamed Mangal Shobhajatra in 1996. This year, the name was restored to Barshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra, following the original naming convention. "There was no imposition of the name; in fact, it was imposed earlier. The name was Barshoboron Shobhajatra in Jessore. When it reached Dhaka, it was called Ananda Shobhajatra, and later, Mangal Shobhajatra became the norm," he explained. "This year, the Fine Arts Faculty decided to return to the original name."

Farooki also framed this year’s celebration as a significant step toward promoting cultural unity and inclusivity among the people of Bangladesh. He pointed out that Pahela Boishakh, traditionally viewed as a festival for Bengali people, has now been embraced as a festival for all citizens of Bangladesh, irrespective of ethnic or religious background.

"Pahela Boishakh is not just a festival for 'Bangalees,' Farooki said. "It is a celebration for all the people of Bangladesh, including Bengalis, Chakma, Marma, and Garo. This year, we’ve made a conscious effort to celebrate it as a truly Bangladeshi festival, inclusive of all communities."

In sum, Farooki emphasized that Pahela Boishakh represents the shared heritage and unity of the entire nation, and he called for its celebration as a festival for all citizens, regardless of their ethnic or religious identity.