Valentine's Day

As a global celebration, Valentine's Day is being celebrated in Bangladesh with joy and pomp as it has already established as a day of showing love to near and dear ones.

Two decades back, people of this country were unknown about Valentine's Day. Veteran journalist and the then  editor of weekly 'Jai Jai Din' Shafik Rehman introduced Love Day or Valentine's Day in Bangladesh. He brought this culture celebrating Valentine's Day presenting red roses, greeting cards and chocolates. The blazing red is the representative color of the Valentine's Day.

Entering into the internet era, Bangladesh has been changed digitally under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and mobile phone operators. The celebration of Valentine's Day has become more focused on internet. People greet their loved ones via social media through texting, presenting gifts, candlelight dinner etc.

Though people from all walks of life irrespective of religion, caste, color celebrate the day in a joyful manner, Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam oppose the celebration of Valentine's Day terming it 'haram (prohibited)' in Islam.

-Shumona Sharna, AA