Dhaka, April 13 -- As the final hours of the year tick away, Chhayanaut is putting final touches to usher in the Bangla New Year with a call for peace, humanity, and the freedom to practise culture without fear.

Vowing to sweep away the "debris and discord" of the past year, the pioneering cultural organisation aims to be "more human-centric" in the coming year.

Their central theme for Pahela Baishakh 1433 is a simple yet powerful plea: "We want to practise our culture undisturbed."

On Monday evening, nearly 200 artists and organisers gathered at the historic Ramna Batamul for a final rehearsal.

The dawn programme at this venue, initiated by Chhayanaut in 1967, has become the hallmark of Bengali New Year celebrations.

Except for the ...