[Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 10, 2017]:- Asiatic EXP in association with Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd. and Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd. has taken an initiative to organize the country’s biggest ever Alpona Utshob named “Banglalink Alponay Bangladesh Powered by Berger Paints” in Dhaka and 5 other major cities around the country to mark the first day of Bengali New Year 1424. This is the first time in the country where 5 places of 5 major cities along with Dhaka will be painted with traditional Alpona at the first hour of Bangla New Year. The places are Manik Miah Avenue – Dhaka, DC Hill Area – Chittagong, Padma Paar – Rajshahi, Shib Bari Circle – Khulna, Bangabondhu Park Road – Barishal and Town Hall Circle – Mymensingh.
The event was announced through a press conference on 10th April 2017 at a conference hall in Gulshan 1, Dhaka. Present during the press conference were Asif Ahmed, Head of Corporate Communications, Banglalink, A K Rahath Ahmed, Head of Marketing Communications, Banglalink, A K M Sadeque Nawaj, General Manager, Marketing, Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, Sara Zaker, Group Executive Vice Chairperson, Asiatic 3sixty , and Md. Muniruzzaman, Patron Artist for Alponay Bangladesh. Participants from the other regions also participated through a live video conference.

Honorable Speaker of the Parliament, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Honorable Cultural Affairs Minister, Asaduzzaman Noor has given their consent to be present and inaugurate the event at Manik Miah Avenue. The main event of Manik Miah Avenue will include a street painting stretching across Manik Miah Avenue by famous artists and general people, Bangaliyana Food Court, photo booth, amenities like face painting etc. Musical Band ‘Chirkut’ will also perform at the Manik Miah Avenue premises. Like Manik Miah Avenue, other selected places will be painted with festivity and traditional celebration amenities.

“Bengali New Year celebration has been an integral part of Bangladeshi culture. The arrival of the Bangla New Year is a joyous opportunity for us to share in festivities. We are proud to be a part of this tradition of alpona painting on Manik Miah Avenue for the first time. We also felt that our people from other district were missing out from such greater festivity like that of Manik Miah Avenue, hence, we included 5 other major cities in our “Banglalink Alponay Bangladesh” initiative. We believe our effort will help elevating the celebration of Bangla New Year 1424” said Mr. Asif Ahmed, Head of Corporate Communications, Banglalink.

“Banglalink always patronizes the local culture and is really happy to be part of this unique initiative. We believe people across all the regions will come, join and celebrate the first hour of Bengali New Year with us and will associate themselves in the biggest Alpona Uthsob of the country. People who will not be able to make it to the event venue, can watch it live in our facebook page “Digital Banglalink” said A K Rahath Ahmed, Head of Marketing Communications, Banglalink.

“Berger is always one in heart with the cultural heritage of this country and to make the festivity of various occasions even more colorful we have taken various steps. In continuation of that we have become a part of the ‘Alponay Bangladesh’ festival. In this year’s arrangement the Bengali New Year 1424 will be welcomed by painting Alpona in various places Dhaka, Chittagong, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Barisal! We are hoping that this huge arrangement of painting Alpona over more than 3.5 lakh square feet of street area will immerse people of the country with the heritage of the country. We welcome you to this festival of painting and be painted”, said A K M Sadeque Nawaj, GM-Marketing, Berger paints Bangladesh Limited.

“Chaitra Shongkranti and Pahela Boishakh are integral to Bengali culture and heritage and we take immense pride and honor to be able to host an event like Alponay Bangladesh which ignites and amplifies the festivity encompassing this occasion. I extend my appreciation towards the sponsors – Banglalink and Berger Paints for partnering with us in such a significant event.” said Sara Zaker, Group Executive Vice Chairperson, Asiatic 3sixty.

“I feel privileged to be a part of something as culturally significant and artistically profound. Alpona as an art form is rooted deep in our culture and the hearts of the mass. I invite all to come and participate in this mega Alpona drawing festival” said Md. Muniruzzaman, Parton Artist.

The event will start at 11 pm on 13th April’17 and will continue till 14th April’17 morning. The event will be open for all where people can come, join and celebrate the first hour of Bangla New Year. A total of more than 400,000 lac sq.ft will be painted this year.
Asiatic EXP is the organizer of the event where Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd. is the title sponsor and Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd. is the co-sponsor.