Patna, March 6: Bengalee Association, Bihar, will celebrate its 75th year with around 5,000 members soon after the state celebrates its centenary this month. The association has planned a grand three- day event in the state capital from April 7.

The president of Bengalee Association, Bihar, Dr D.K. Sinha, told The Telegraph: “The 75th foundation day celebration of the association will start from April 7 at Ram Mohun Roy Seminary School. A book fair and a cultural programme will be organised on the first day. The venue for the second day of the celebration is SK Memorial Hall. Around 5,000 Bengalis, including those settled in other states and outside the country, will attend the event. A prabhat pheri (morning procession), song and dance competitions will be organised on that day. Cultural programmes on the final day of the event will be held at the Ram Mohun Roy Seminary School.”

Sinha added: “Bengalis who have migrated to countries such as Singapore and Nepal will take part in the celebration. We have received confirmation letters from some of them. Among them are Dr Rahul Priya, a physician in Singapore, and Somdeb Saha, a noted writer in Nepal. The Dhaka Bangla Academy chairman, Aminur Hasan, has also given his consent to take part in the programme.”

He further said the 75th foundation day of the association is significant as it coincides with Bihar’s centenary celebrations.

The guest list for the event includes chief minister Nitish Kumar and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi. “We had sent invites to both of them. They have agreed to come for the celebrations at SK Memorial Hall (the second day). However, we can’t confirm if they would finally come because both have very busy schedules,” Sinha said, adding that an invite has also been sent to Governor Devanand Konwar. There has, however, been no confirmation about his presence at the event.

Apart from planning the grand event in April, the association members are organising meets for various Bengali academics, lawyers, businessmen and doctors to solicit suggestions for the three-day foundation day event. “A meeting with principals and vice-principals of schools was conducted last Sunday,” said Gautam Chakraborty, an executive member of the Bengalee Association, Bihar.