DHAKA, Mar 3, 2026 (BSS) – Hindu community members today celebrated Holi, a religious festival of colours, across the country with much enthusiasm and religious fervour. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the advent of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. The festival, also known as Dol Purnima (full moon day), began in the morning and continued till evening.  As a ritual in celebration of the festival, the devotees visited the shrines, temples and offered colours (Abir) at the feet of Idol of the God Sri Krishna and Goddess Sri Radhika. Abir Khela, a significant event of the festival, means throwing of Abir, a kind of perfumed and pink coloured powder and different other colourful powders by revellers on each other making festival-goers coated in colour, was also taken place in temples to make the extravaganza enthusiastic. In accordance with mythology, Dol Purnima, also known as Dol Jatra or Holi, is regarded as the festival of the believers of Boishnobism. In Dhakeshwari National Temple, Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee organized worshiping and Kirton (devotional songs) in the morning. Abir was offered at the feet of idols of Radha Krishna and Chaitanyadeb. Devotees also offered the Abir to God and Goddess. Besides, the festival was celebrated at different temples across the country, including capital Dhaka. Marking the festival, the surroundings of Dhakeswari National Temple and Ramna Kali Mandir wore a festive look as hundreds of youths celebrated the festival with different colours. At Dhakeswari temple and Jagannath Hall, students were seen celebrating the festival colouring the fellow devotees and taking their photographs and selfies. The festival has been introduced marking an auspicious day when Sri Krishna, Sri Radhika and their friends were playing with Abir at Brindaban in the ancient days. The festival is known as Dol Jatra in many states in India including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu (Madras), Odisha  and North, West and Middle regions of India. Holi or Dol Jatra is also celebrated in neighbouring Nepal.

KHULNA, March 3, 2026 (BSS) – Members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard arrested a pirate along with arms and ammunition during a special operation in the Sundarbans early today. The arrestee was identified as Afzal Sardar, 32, an active member of the notorious “Boro Jahangir Bahini.” Acting on a tip-off, a joint force comprising Coast Guard Base Mongla, Outpost Nalian, Koira Station, and police conducted a special operation in the Narayanpur area under Koira Police Station at around 4:00 am. During the drive, Afzal Sardar was apprehended. Later, another raid was carried out at around 11:00 am near the Pashakhali Forest Office under Mongla Police Station, where one shotgun, one single-barrel gun, 21 rounds of fresh cartridges, and a walkie-talkie set were recovered. Five cases are pending against him with Koira and Dumuria police stations, the release added.