Boishakhi Bondhon Anando Utshob 1419 held in UK

Bondhon, a Milton Keynes based Bangladeshi Community Association celebrated ‘Bengali New Year 1419’ with an event titled ‘Boishakhi Bondhon Anando Utsob 1419’ on Saturday the 14th April 2012 at MADCAP (Wolverton Town Hall) in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The 14th April is the First Day of the Bengali New Year. This is one of the Bangladeshi National events celebrated globally by the people who speak Bengali and continues to celebrate the rich Bengali Cultural Heritage. This year Bondhon organized the event which was attended by 180 people from Milton Keynes and surrounding areas. The programme started with a welcome speech by Dr SAM Hoque, President of Bondhon, followed by a brief inaugural message by the Deputy Mayor of Milton Keynes and Councillor, Catriona Morris.

Among others, the event was also attended by Mr Nick Fenwick, spouse of Ms Morris; the Chair of Council and Speaker from the Bethnal Green and Bow Constituency Councillor Mr Mizan Chaudhury; and the Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh to UK at Birmingham, Mr Faisal Ahmed.

The audience consisted of people with strong links to Bengali culture from Bangladesh as well as from West Bengal (Kolkata) of India. Representatives from local businesses were also there with great enthusiasm that showed their interests to support such programmes in Milton Keynes in future.

The evening’s programme gave Bondhon an opportunity to showcase and pass on the rich cultural heritage that Bangladesh is so proud of and determined to demonstrate. It included traditional Bengali food and desserts, music, dance, recitation and a fashion show wearing traditional Bengali dress, dresses & boutiques, jewelleries, hena and face paintings, etc.

The most attractive item was titled ‘Banglar Rup’ (the Image of Bengal), through which eight Bangladeshi traditional ‘Iconic’ characters were presented. The characters included – Dhaki with Dhol, Farmer with his Kaste (hand tool), Baul with Ektara, Boatman with Boat Helm, Snake Charmer with flute, Village women working with new rice, Tea leave picker from the Tea Plantation and finally a pair of Bride and Groom in their wedding dresses.

Then was the deliberation by Councillor Mizan Chaudhury, followed by a group dance and an array of Golden Era Bengali songs rendered by the guest singer Rajib De (RajD).

The last item was a Raffle Draw of which the prizes were distributed by the Assistant High Commissioner, Mr Faisal Ahmed. Part of this Raffle Draw collection by Bondhon would be donated to the Milton Keynes Willen Hospice to make contribution to a local charity.

Finally, Dr Shafiqul Islam, Vice President of Bondhon proposed vote of thanks to everyone present who had made the event such a success. He also thanked Milton Keynes Community Voluntary Organisation (MKCVO), Jalori, Daan, JMG and the MADCAP Trust on behalf of Bondhon for all their help and supports. He reiterated Bondhon’s eagerness to bring Bangladeshi culture to the local community with a hope that the input and participation of the people coming from this diverse and beautiful land will be recognised and celebrated by all.