Dhaka, April 13 -- Five varied motifs at the heart of the "Baishakhi Shobhajatra" will carry a message of democratic transition with the arrival of the Bengali New Year.

These artistic creations include a rooster, an elephant, a pigeon, a Dotara -- a traditional Bengali string instrument -- and a horse.

Azharul Islam Sheikh, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University, notes that the rooster has been chosen to represent democratic rebirth.

He told bdnews24.com that Bangladesh had remained under what he described as an authoritarian system for 18 years and has now moved towards a democratic path through elections.

He said the motifs reflects a new dawn, a new country, and a renewed democratic beginning.

"The rooster has been ...