Farmer Amzad Hossain (L) receives a token of appreciation from German Charge d'Affairs Dr Ferdinand von Weyhe. Amzad sold 1 bigha of his farm land to make a 3.5 km-long German flag (R) which was displayed during the reception at the Magura Stadium yesterday. PhotoS: Star

From painting a multi-storeyed building with colours of their favourite team to the large- scale placards with pictures of their favourite players in the random gullies of the city, Dhaka's football fans left no stones unturned when it came to announcing their favourite team in this year's World Cup.
However, none of them matched the vigour shown by Magura's Amzad Hossain, who made a 3.5 km-long German flag before the World Cup began to show his support for his team.
Amzad's creation was brought to the notice of the German Embassy, which organised a reception for the die-hard German fan at the Magura Stadium yesterday and displayed his flag there.
“Amzad has proved his unthinkable dedication to support a sports team and the German people will be happy to hear about him,” said German Charge d'Affaires Dr Fedinand von Weyhe in his speech at the ceremony.
“It is really amazing. This did not happen even in my country but took place in a remote village in Bangladesh and I am very pleased to meet with him,” he added.
A farmer of Ghoramara village in Sadar Upazila of Magura district, Amzad spent Tk 1.5 lakh to make the flag. He had to sell 1 bigha of his farmland to raise the money required to make the flag.
Explaining the reason behind his support for Germany Amzad said that he was diagnosed with a disease in 1986 which he was not recovering from despite taking a lot of medication. At the end however, it was medicine brought from Germany that cured him. This incident led to him supporting the football team since 1986.
In his speech Amzad said that he wanted to meet the German national football players. In reply, Dr Ferdinand said that although it would be a difficult task he would try his best.
As a token of appreciation Dr Ferdinand gave Amzad a German jersey, a football and a lifelong membership certificate of the Germany Fan Club.
Amzad, in turn, presented a few Bangladeshi rural items such as a bamboo flute and a hand-fan.