The students of 26th batch of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University have announced their decision to boycott this year’s Mangal Shobhajatra, alleging that the event has been politicized and lacks student participation.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the students claimed that the traditional New Year’s celebration has been organised in a “nepotistic and politically motivated” manner, without their consent or involvement.

“This year’s Boishakh is a politically motivated Boishakh. We are not supporting the formalities and procession of Boishakh organised by the teachers due to the flattering attitude of the people involved in this event,” the statement read.

According to long-standing tradition, the responsibility for organising the Mangal Shobhajatra typically falls to a specific batch of students. This year, the task would have been assigned to the 26th batch (70th batch of Fine Arts), who claim they were completely sidelined in the planning process. “This time, the arrangement is being made solely by the teachers without any consent and involvement of the students,” their statement said, adding that the decision was made “abruptly” without consulting the general student body.

However, Professor Azharul Islam Sheikh, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, dismissed these allegations, asserting that preparations for the event are proceeding as usual. “Those who made the statement are now former students of the faculty. We are coordinating the Mangal Shobhajatra with teachers and students on a larger scale than before. Several meetings have been held for financial transparency and work discipline, and the event will be held as per the rules,” he said.

He also suggested that the boycotting students might have other motives, saying, “Such statements do not involve general students. Those who made the statements are trying to create confusion. They may have some other political motive.”

Controversy Over Abu Sayeed Motif

Further controversy erupted regarding a motif planned for this year’s procession, reportedly inspired by Abu Sayeed, a student from Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur who was killed during the July movement. The motif was intended to depict him standing with his arms outstretched, symbolising resistance.

Following backlash on social media, Dean Sheikh clarified that the design was only a preliminary discussion and had not been finalised. “A draft decision was made on how to include the July movement in the New Year celebration, but we have dropped the Abu Sayeed motif. It will not be there,” he stated.

In response, the 26th batch students emphasised that they had no knowledge of the motif and did not support any decision that might hurt personal ideologies. “The general students of Fine Arts are in no way connected with this and were not aware of it,” they said, placing full responsibility for the controversy on the organising teachers.

However, despite the administration’s reassurances, the boycott by the 26th batch has fuelled debates about the event’s changing nature and the level of student involvement, raising questions about the balance between tradition and administrative control in one of Bangladesh’s most iconic cultural celebrations.