Celebration of 'Symbolic Hal Khata' organized in Jahangirnagar for the New Year.

 

A ‘symbolic Halkhata’ has been organized at Jahangirnagar University (JU) on the occasion of Bengali New Year. The event was organized under the banner of the Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Union (BDSSU) branch in the university’s Battala area on Monday (April 14).

The organizers said that university students have to pay their dues in Battala shops, hall shops and canteens due to various circumstances. But it is very sad that many students pay their dues in the shops due to political influence or intimidation in various ways and do not pay them for a long time or never pay them. Due to which financially insolvent shopkeepers are in extreme distress, some have to close their businesses permanently. Therefore, a symbolic Halkhata has been organized on the occasion of this first Baishakh to appeal to those who have not paid their dues for more than a year to pay their dues in Battala and hall shops.

In this regard, Zia Uddin Ayan, a student of the university's Department of Government and Politics and Joint Member Secretary of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Democratic Students' Union, said, 'This time, Bangla New Year is being celebrated in a different way at Jahangirnagar University. We have organized a symbolic Halkhata so that the old culture and traditions of Bengal, like Halkhata, are not lost during the Bangla New Year. We have seen that during the past 16 years of authoritarian rule, many leaders and activists of Chhatra League and students have owed thousands of taka in various shops and hall canteens on campus. We want them to pay the remaining amount in various shops and enter their names in the Halkhata in the new year.'

Meanwhile, the university's Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Sohel Ahmed, deans of various faculties, proctors, hall provosts, teachers-students and officials-employees participated in the symbolic Halkhata.

On the other hand, Jahangirnagar University celebrated Bangla New Year-1432 with various events under the theme 'New Year's Unity, End of Fascism and Triumph of Humanity'. On the occasion of the day, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan exchanged New Year's greetings with the teachers, students, officials and employees of the university at his residence at 8:15 am.

Then, at 9:15 am, a New Year's joyous procession was taken out from in front of the Business Studies Faculty building of the university. The procession passed through various roads of the university and ended at the foot of Amar Ekushey.

Regarding the overall situation, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan of the university said, 'We are celebrating this New Year in a special situation and after a huge struggle. We have struggled against discrimination. We have stumbled several times while building a state after the Liberation War of 1971. However, through the mass uprising of the students and the public in 2024, the dream of building our country has been reawakened.

He said, "Regardless of party affiliation, we will all live together and commit to building a new Bangladesh. The Vice Chancellor said, "We can eliminate the injustices being committed against humanity in the country and the world together."