Joy Bangla Concert: Limitless passion and positive energy

The fourth instalment of Joy Bangla Concert once again paid homage to Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's iconic speech of March 7, 1971, with Bangladesh's most prominent bands playing songs for thousands of youths at the Army Stadium in Dhaka on March 7, 2018.

The event was organised by Young Bangla and Center for Research and Information (CRI) with special guests Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Trustee, CRI and Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources present. The music acts included Powersurge, Arbovirus, Shunno, Nemesis, Cryptic Fate, Lalon, Chirkut, and Artcell.

The gates opened at 1:30 pm and groups of music enthusiasts waiting at the gates started flooding into the venue. The show kicked off at 3 pm with a heartfelt rendition of "Purbo digonte" by an ensemble of young musicians.

This was followed by Powersurge taking the stage. They began with a powerful cover of the song "Ma go bhabna keno" with the audience singing along with the band. They proceeded to give an energetic show for the young fans with songs like, "Ognisnan", "Sultana bibiyana/Jatra pala", "Mitther agrashon", and "Oprostut juddho".

Arbovirus took the stage next to perform their version of the popular song "Amra korbo joy". They also performed their popular originals "Jalo agun jalo", "Shohor", "Bhenge felo", "Hariye jao", "School" and "Omanush".

Next on stage was Shunno who performed "Godhulir opare", "Shoto asha", "Bedona", "Jhoriye dao", "Mon tore", "Shono mohajon", and another electric version of "Amra korbo joy" where they encouraged the audience to sing along with the sun setting in the backdrop.

After their performance, the audience got to see a promo for the new graphic novel on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a video clip from UNESCO showing the acceptance of the March 7 speech as a documentary heritage in the Memory of the World International Register.

By this time the venue was fully packed and ready for the second half of the show. Nemesis began their performance with "Gonojagoron" and followed with "Bir", "Obocheton", a cover of "Rokto diye naam likhechi", "Bondho ghorer khola janala", "Joyoddhoni", "Kobe", and "Ghuri". The stage lit up in a million kaleidoscopic colours and the audience roared to the band's performance.

Cryptic Fate came next with their heavy metal act and the ambiance resonated with the band's energy as they performed "Onadorer shontan", "Protibaad", "Bhoboghure", "Akromon", and of course "Cholo Bangladesh".

Lalon soon followed with songs like "E shohor elomelo", "Rokto chai", "Ami opaar hoye boshe achi", "Keu bole Bhogoban", and "Pagol chhara duniya chole na". Chirkutt took the stage and performed their songs "Prothom prem-e morey jawar golpo", "Jadur shohor", "Ahare jibon", "Khajna", and "Duniya". They also performed the patriotic song "Dhono dhyanno pushpe bhora".

The event concluded with Artcell performing "Onno shomoy", "Oniket prantor", "Rahur grash", "Chhayar ninad", and "Kandari hushiar".

The success of this event was evident in the enthusiasm of the audience and the charged atmosphere, with over 32000 people having registered to be a part of this massive experience. This year the concert also took place in Sylhet and Khulna on March 2 and 5, prior to Dhaka.

The Joy Bangla Concert was the perfect reminder of what our country was built on – unwavering passion and a sense of solidarity – induced by the talented musicians who speak for the youth of this country through their music. Throughout the event the crowd was lively, filled with a positive spirit and zest that beckoned to the revolutionary speech that had brought the people of the country together to fight for the independence of our nation.