Cultural activists yesterday demanded continuation of this year's Pahela Baishakh celebration programmes till 8:00pm across the country against the government's decision to conclude outdoor celebrations by 5:00pm.

Limiting the day's celebration in the name of “security concern” is discouraging for overall cultural practices, they said.

They said it is also contradictory to the government's goal of combating fundamentalism.

The activists were addressing a press conference arranged by Sammilita Sangskritik Jote (SSJ) at Dhaka University.

They also demanded one percent allocation from the upcoming national budget for the cultural sector for its overall development.

Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, is celebrated on April 14.

On Monday, the government instructed all cultural and other organisations to conclude Pahela Baishakh celebrations at open places by 5:00pm.

 “All programmes at open places have been asked to wrap up by 5:00pm while the authorities of Rabindra Sarobar shall end their programmes by 7:00pm,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said after a meeting at police headquarters.

SSJ President Golam Kuddus said Pahela Baishakh is an integral part of the country's tradition and its celebration cannot be limited.

Replying to a query, Kuddus said the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has informed them that it does not want to take any “risks” by allowing programmes after 5:00pm.

“We did not arrange programmes protesting the government's similar decisions in the last two years,” he added.

This year, SSJ will arrange a programme at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi and the DMP has allowed them to continue till 7:00pm. “But we demanded that the time limit be extended to 8:00pm,” he said.

Cultural personality Nasiruddin Yousuff said many people will prefer to come out in the afternoon on the day and celebrate on their own. Many will miss out celebrations if the programmes are cut short, he said.

Singer Fakir Alamgir said the government repeatedly talked about cultural activities as an “antidote” to fundamentalism. However, it limited cultural activities and did not allocate sufficient budget for the sector, he said.

SSJ General Secretary Hasan Arif also spoke.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, in a statement yesterday, also condemned and protested the government decision of concluding outdoor celebrations by 5:00pm. The cultural organisation, however, welcomed the decision of banning instruments such as vuvuzela as it emits a high-pitched unpleasant noise.