National anthem to be sung simultaneously nationwide on March 26

The government has taken a programme to sing the country's national anthem 'Amar Sonar Bangla' written by Rabindranath Tagore in correct form at 8:00am across the country and Bangladesh missions abroad on the Independence Day.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the nation to sing the national anthem at the main programme at 'Jatiya Shishu Kishore Samabesh' to be held at Bangabandhu National Stadium on March 26, said an official release.

It said the cabinet division has requested all to join the programme from their respective places of stay.

In this regard, an inter-ministerial meeting was held today at the cabinet division with Cabinet Secretary (coordination and reform) NM Ziaul Alam in the chair. Representatives of different ministries and offices were present on the occasion.

Earlier, under the initiative of the Prime Minister's Office and supervision of Cabinet Division, competitions of singing national anthem in chorus at every educational institution across the country were held between January 20 and March 15.

Around 63 lakh students of primary, secondary and higher secondary and madrasah levels took part in the competitions.

The competition was held at national level on March 15.

The Prime Minister will hand over prizes among the winning teams at 'Jatiya Shishu Kishore Samabesh' at Bangabandhu National Stadium on March 26.

Bangladesh to stage one-minute blackout remembering black night

The country is set to stage a one-minute blackout from 9:00 to 9:01 pm tomorrow recalling the horror of the March 25, 1971 black night when the Pakistanis launched genocide on Bangladesh soil.

"We expect people in every household to join the programme by switching off their electricity during the one-minute demonstration," State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told BSS.

He said the power supply across the country would be normal while the people were expected to keep the switches off to stage a complete blackout in memory of the victims of March 25 night, 1971.

Director General of Power Cell Engineer Mohammad Hossain said the country's electricity demand would be 3,000 mw less than the normal time.

An inter-ministerial meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on March 11 decided to observe the nationwide blackout.

The Jatiya Sangsad during its 14th session in 2017 unanimously adopted a resolution declaring March 25 as the Genocide Day.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the Independence calling upon the people to build a united resistance against the Pakistani occupation forces just ahead of his arrest from his 32 Dhanmandi residence.

Different political parties, socio-cultural organisations and proliberation forms have chalked out elaborate programmes in observance of the Black Night to pay deep homage to the martyrs.