Love triumphs over taboos in Bangladesh Valentine

DHAKA, Feb 14 (Reuters) Love was in the air at several Dhaka universities today as students held concerts and cuddled at rare events to celebrate Valentine's Day in majority Muslim Bangladesh.

Up to 10,000 students at Dhaka University, the country's biggest, attended an open air concert despite pouring rain.

Some even stole off to hug and kiss on campus in a city where public displays of affection are considered taboo.

Similar events were held at other colleges.

''Let them have some time of their own, it comes once in a year,'' said a teacher who declined to be named.

Security was tight for the concert, which was also attended by teachers and some of the students' parents. Many students showed up with flowers and gifts for their sweethearts.

''Love runs wild,'' said a student who also did not want to be named. ''Let it flow for ever and guide us to unending friendship,'' added another student.

Valentine's Day is a relatively new concept in Bangladesh which has been embraced by the increasingly Westernised youth but frowned upon by their elders.

Private television channels targeting more liberal, young Bangladeshis aired special Valentine-themed programmes. But not everybody was happy.

''Valentine's Day is alien to our tradition and culture, so it's celebration is not supported by most of Bangladeshis,'' said Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, an Islamic scholar.

''Love is a matter of privacy and should not be displayed in the public, in any form,'' he said.

REUTERS KD DS1503