Students of Guakhola Secondary School in Narail celebrated Pahela Baishakh with a unique bicycle procession, drawing widespread praise from the local community.
The colorful event took place at 11:30 AM on Tuesday (April 14) in Narail Sadar Upazila. Dressed in traditional Baishakhi attire and sarees, hundreds of students cycled through rural roads to greet villagers and passersby, ushering in the Bengali New Year.
The District Council Administrator and freedom fighter, Mustafizur Rahman Alek, attended as the chief guest. He was joined by Headmaster Rabindranath Mandal and Pradeep Kumar Sarkar of the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra’s Mobile Library.
To promote reading habits in the digital age, the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra awarded books to participating students. "Our goal is to inspire a new generation of readers," said Pradeep Kumar Sarkar.
For the students, the event was a natural extension of their daily lives. "We cycle to school every day," said JC Dhar, a seventh-grader. "Using our bikes to spread New Year joy made the day even more special."
Local residents noted the environmental and health benefits of the initiative. Amidst global fuel concerns, they praised the school for highlighting bicycles as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and healthy mode of transport.
Guakhola Secondary School, located 16 kilometers from the district town, is well-regarded for its academic and cultural standards. Headmaster Rabindranath Mandal noted that nearly 200 students regularly commute by bicycle, making the procession a fitting tribute to their daily routine and Bengali heritage.
