Published on 12:01 AM, April 10, 2014

It's Guinness world record

It's Guinness world record

The efforts of more than 2.5 lakh people finally paid off as Bangladesh has been listed in the Guinness World Records for an event where the largest number of people sang the national anthem together.
The Guinness World Records made the announcement on its official website yesterday afternoon, stating: "The most people singing a national anthem simultaneously is 2,54,537.
"It was achieved by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 26 March 2014."
Earlier, 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.
Though representatives of the Guinness World Record were not present at the programme, they will be confirming the record through videos of the event sent to them, according to its website.
As the clock struck 11:20am on the country's Independence Day on March 26, the national anthem “Amar Shonar Bangla...Ami Tomay Bhalobashi” in chorus by as many as 2,54,681 people reverberated through the venue and its adjoining areas.
Thousand others failed to enter the parade ground but stood outside joining the event.
People 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.
After two trials, participants sang the anthem making the record. They celebrated the achievement cheering and waving the national flags.  
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.