Tourist Desk: Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that the Bengali New Year or Pahela Boishakh is a day of celebration and joy. Pahela Boishakh was born with the aim that there will be no religion, caste or discrimination in this festival.He said, “Honoring the contribution of farmers, the government has dedicated this New Year and the next one year to the country’s ‘agricultural economy’.” He made this statement while speaking as the chief guest at the ‘Bangla New Year 1433’ celebration organized by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at the National Theatre Auditorium on Tuesday afternoon. The Information Minister said, ‘The first Baishakh was born following the Hijri year and the Gregorian calendar, this Bangla year was created mainly considering the economic benefits of Bangladeshi farmers.’ He further said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman celebrated this special day with farmers in Tangail, which is a manifestation of the government’s commitment to agriculture and farmers. Speaking as a special guest at the event, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Policy, Strategy, Information and Broadcasting and Cultural Affairs, extended New Year greetings to the audience present. In the president’s speech, Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Kaniz Maula, said, “Today’s Boishakh has spread universally to millions of people. We want to move towards a prosperous Bangladesh with all the cultural diversity, including our small ethnic groups. Along with economic development, cultural prosperity is our main goal.” Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed delivered the welcome speech at the event. Academy Secretary Mohammad Zakir Hossain proposed the vote of thanks. Artists from the Shilpakala Academy presented a delightful cultural program at the event.