Bangladesh creates history through a spectacular ‘Lakho Kanthe Sonar Bangla’ programme where nearly three lakh people sang the national anthem in unison at the National Parade Ground, eying to have its name in the Guinness Book of World Records.
People from all walks of life, mostly in red and green costumes, sang together the national anthem of Bangladesh, ‘Amar Sonar Bangla Ami Tomay Bhalobashi’. Although the official counting showed the number of people singing the national anthem at 2,54,681, but around 3 lakh people in and around the ground sang the national anthem.
Through holding of this event at the National Parade Ground in the capital, Bangladesh looks for having its name in the Guinness Book of World Records for singing of the national anthem by the highest number of people as the country celebrates its 44th Independence and National Day.
When the clock struck 11:20am, ‘Amar Shonar Bangla, Ami Tomay Bhalobashi’ chorus reverberated the area.
Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain, Cabinet members, PM’s Advisers, State Ministers, members of parliament were also present on the occasion and sang the national anthem.
The event was open to all above the age of 13. Though it was scheduled to begin at 11:00am, people without any prior registration started to throng the venue since 6:30 am.
India holds the record for the presence of about 1,21,653 people who sang their national anthem in chorus.
Before today, the world record of greatest number of people to sing the same national or regional anthem at the same time belonged to Sahara India Pariwar (India) for May 6, 2013 event in Lucknow when 121,653 people sang India’s national anthem.
Speaking prior to the singing of the national anthem, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all to revive the spirit of the War of Liberation through singing the national anthem imbued with patriotism and thus carry forward this spirit from generation to generation.
“Bangladesh is moving ahead and will continue to move and the country will establish itself in the global arena as a dignified nation,” she added.
Hasina also made a fervent call to revive the spirit from generation to generation sharpening the spirit of the War of Liberation to turn independent Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous one.
Mentioning that the Bangalees always tend to create histories and new histories, the Prime Minister said that the singing of the national anthem, which ignites spirit of the war of liberation, among all the people of the country, would become part of the global history and to be added to the Guinness World Records. “The world would be able to know our nationalism and patriotism.”
Recalling the contributions with deep respect of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the four national leaders, freedom fighters, the war heroines for gaining the long-cherished independence, Hasina thanked the organisers for holding such an event successfully. She also extended her thanks to those who sung the national anthem both at home and in abroad.
The PM also extended her heartfelt thanks and gratitude to people from all walks of life those who have gathered at the National Parade Ground including students, teachers, political leaders, activists, members of the Armed Forces, BGB, RAB, police, Ansar and VDP and the garment workers.
As the 1971 Liberation War brought people from all sections together to fight the Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators, this event titled ‘Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla’ once again assembled people from all walks of life, including students (from class-VIII and above), artistes, freedom fighters, garment workers, members of the armed forces and the law enforcement agencies as well as other professionals, to sing the national anthem together in a grand chorus and recreate the spirit of the liberation.
Noted artistes of the country, including Samina Chowdhury, Bappa Majumdar, Kanak Chanpa, Tapan Chowdhury, Shuvro Deb, Momtaz and popular band LRB performed at the venue to entertain the crowd before and after the anthem.
Fahim Hossain Chowdhury, Mita Haque, Rezwana Chowdhury Bonnya, Timir Nandi, Abdul Jabbar, Shaheen Samad, Indramohon Rajbangshi, Khairul Anam Shakil, Farida Parveen and many other eminent artistes on behalf of Shilpakala Academy led the chorus with Sujeo Shyam directing the musical arrangements.
There had been a couple of rehearsals to ensure harmonisation of the singers with the national anthem. Lyrics of the anthem were also given out to the participants.
Special measures were undertaken to ensure hassle-free participation of people. The roads adjacent to the venue were accessible only to participants. Free shuttle trains from Joydebpur and Narayanganj and special bus services on certain routes of the capital were arranged.
Sponsored by the Cultural Affairs Ministry and supervised by the Armed Forces Division, the programme continued till 12:00 noon and was telecast live by most TV channels.
Source: UNBConnect
