Pohela Boishakh Festival on 14th April the city comes alive with everyone dressing up in their new year's best (red white saris for girls and panjabis for guys) and hitting the streets for a fantastic time. Here are some popular events that happen all day-
- Ramna Botmul :The main attraction is at Ramna Botmul (the base of an age old banyan tree) where a cultural organisation, Chhayanaut, welcomes the new year with poetry recitation and songs. There are a bunch of other performances by similar platforms all within a 1km radius centring Shahbagh intersection. The procession starts around 6am from the Fine Arts Faculty (Charukala) of Dhaka University.
- Hay Festival: The Hay Festival Dhaka has been held for the past 3 years and this year Hay Festival Dhaka takes place 20–22 November 2014 in the historic grounds of the Bangla Academy in Dhaka.
- Art/Photography Exhibitions: The best places for beautiful exhibitions of all types are:
- Drik Gallery & Bengal Art Gallery (dhanmondi 26 & 27)
- Dhaka Art Centre (dhanmondi 7)
- Alliance Francaise, Goethe Institut, Russian Cultural Center (spread out around Dhanmondi & Gulshan - they usually have interesting classes, events, concerts, exhibitions etc)
- Movies: You can always go to Star Complex (at Bashundhara City on Panthapath) or Blockbuster Cinemas (at Jamuna Future Park in Bashundhara)
- Theatre: Bailery road is widely known as theatre street with the Guide House Auditorium being one of the foremost destinations for plays.