Bid for world record

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, singing on the stage alongside Sector Commander KM Shafiullah, Bir Uttam, and Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor. Photo: Star

 

 

More than 2.5 lakh people gathered at the National Parade Ground in the capital on the Independence Day yesterday and sang the national anthem together to set a world record.
As the clock struck 11:20am, the “Amar Shonar Bangla...Ami Tomay Bhalobashi” chorus by as many as 254,681 people reverberated through the venue and its adjoining areas. Thousand others failed to enter the parade ground but stood outside joining the event.

People from all walks of life, including a large number of schoolchildren, sing the national anthem at the National Parade Ground on the Independence Day yesterday as the nation vies for a world record with 2.5 lakh people joining in. More photos on page 2 and 14. Photo: Star

People in red and green set off for the venue from all corners of the city early in the morning to join the event, “Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla”, sponsored by the cultural affairs ministry and supervised by the Armed Forces Division.
They walked miles as traffic blocked the roads leading to the venue.
By 10:00am, the entire ground was dotted with people from all strata of life. Students, teachers, garment workers, artistes, freedom fighters, politicians and members of civil service, police and armed forces went there to be part of the historical moment.
They were provided with lyrics of the anthem and national flags.
The entrances and stage of the venue were decorated with photographs of liberation war heroes, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President Abdul Hamid, Sheikh Hasina and Rabindranath Tagore.
After two trials, participants sang the anthem making the record. They celebrated the achievement cheering and waving the national flags.  
Prior to the chorus, an audio of how the song written by Tagore became the national anthem was played.
The programme continued for around one hour with performances by the country's renowned singers.
The event was aimed to have Bangladesh's name in the Guinness Book of World Records through paying tributes to the three million martyrs for their supreme sacrifice for the country and to reignite the spirit of the Liberation War and patriotism.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, singing on the stage alon gside Sector Commander KM Shafiullah, Bir Uttam, and Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor. Photo: Star

Before today, the world record of the largest number of people singing national or regional anthem together belonged to Sahara India Pariwar (India). Some 1.21 lakh people sang India's national anthem at that event on May 6, last year in Lucknow.  
“We are here today not only to sing the national anthem and make the world record. We are here to express love for our country and pay tribute to those who laid down their lives for an independent Bangladesh,” said a student.
“This is a special day for me. I will never forget singing the national anthem with so many people,” said a cheerful Mousumi, who lives in Azimpur, waving a national flag.
“I sang the song many times before. But today, when I sang with so many voices, it meant something special. Today I realise the meaning of the song anew,” said an elderly man who came from Mirpur.
Earlier, in a brief speech Hasina vowed to disseminate the spirit of the Liberation War among all, which, she said, will be transmitted to next generations.
“Bangalees always make history. Today we will express our love and respect for the country and its people through the national anthem. It will remain as a record in the Guinness Book of World Records,” she said.