Pohela Boishakh speech template (Bangladesh)
Published 10 October 2026 · Date checked on 5 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals
Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the month of Boishakh, is the Bengali New Year and a public holiday in Bangladesh on 14 April. It is one of the country's most popular festivals, celebrated by people of every faith. In Dhaka the year is welcomed with a dawn concert of songs at Ramna Park and colourful processions. Elsewhere there are fairs called Boishakhi melas, traditional food such as panta bhat with hilsa, and red-and-white clothing. Traders open new account books, a custom known as halkhata.
- Date
- April 14
- Next dates
- Wednesday 14 April 2027
Friday 14 April 2028
Saturday 14 April 2029 - Country
- Bangladesh
- Tone
- Cultural celebration
- Typical events
- University campuses, cultural centres, Bangladeshi embassy events, community fairs abroad, school celebrations and company gatherings held on or around 14 April.
- Length
- 186 spoken words · about 1.5 min at 130 words a minute · 4 cue cards
The Pohela Boishakh speech, ready as cue cards
A complete host script in 4 cards, about 1.5 minutes of speaking. Open it in the editor to add your names, change the card size or highlights, and print.
- SHUBHO NOBOBORSHO1 / 4
Shubho Noboborsho, everyone, and a very happy new year. I'm {Your name}, and on behalf of {Organisation} welcome to our Pohela Boishakh celebration at {Venue}. What a sight: so much red and white, so many smiling faces, and so many generations together in one place. - A NEW PAGE2 / 4
Today is the first day of Boishakh, the first month of the Bengali year. Traders open fresh account books, families share a festive meal, and towns fill with music and fairs. It is a day for everyone, whatever their background, and a chance to begin again with good wishes and an open heart. - WELCOMING THE YEAR IN SONG3 / 4
In Dhaka, the new year is greeted at dawn with songs in the open air. Our version comes a little later in the day. Please welcome {Singers or cultural group}, who will open the year for us with Esho He Boishakh.
[SONG – ESHO HE BOISHAKH] - LET THE FESTIVAL BEGIN4 / 4
Thank you, {Singers or cultural group}. Lunch is now being served, including panta bhat and hilsa, so please make your way to the tables. Enjoy the music, the food and the company, and may this year bring health and happiness to you and your families. Shubho Noboborsho.
Red is used only for names, titles, organisations, dates, times and section headings. Replace the words in {curly brackets} with your own details; lines in [SQUARE BRACKETS] are stage directions and are not read aloud.
How to adapt it
- In Bangladesh the date is fixed at 14 April, but Bengali communities in India follow a traditional calendar and may celebrate on 14 or 15 April. Check which date your audience observes.
- Red and white is the classic colour scheme, from saris and panjabis to banners and table decorations. Mention it in the invitation so guests can dress for the occasion.
- Panta bhat with fried hilsa is the traditional new-year meal, but offer vegetarian and other options too, so that every guest can share in the food.
- The festival is celebrated by Bangladeshis of all faiths and backgrounds. Keep the script cultural and inclusive, and greet guests with Shubho Noboborsho rather than a religious blessing.
Print and rehearse
“Edit and print these cards” opens the script in the free cue card maker, where you can choose A5, 4 × 6 or 3 × 5 inch cards, print several per sheet with cut lines or export PDF, PowerPoint and Word, and rehearse full screen in practice mode. To write your own programme around it, see how to write an MC script and the run of show template.
Sources
Date and background checked on 5 October 2026 against: Holidays 2026 | Pages | Embassy & Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the UN Offices and other International Organizations in Vienna. Customs vary between organisations and regions; always follow the official programme of your event.
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