Bangladesh tries to sing its way into record books

Bangladesh witnessed a historic moment on its 43rd Independence Day when 254,681 people gathered and sang the national anthem in chorus. ‘Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla’ (Sonar Bangla in tens of thousands of voices) is what the event is being called. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the ceremony at the National Parade Square along with ministers, MPs and armed forces officials. At around 11.20am on Wednesday, Bangladesh tried to make history by getting tens of thousands of people to sing ‘Amar Sonar Bangla Ami Tomai Bhalobashi’ (My Golden Bengal, I Love You). On May 6 last year, the Sahara India Pariwar had set a Guinness Book record by arranging the singing of the Indian national anthem by 121,653 people. Bangladesh attempted to surpass the feat by getting a far larger body of people to sing its own national anthem. All joined the grand event by not only gathering at the parade ground but assembling in other parts of Dhaka city as well. People from all walks of life gathered at the National Parade Square since morning as the nation ventured to make history by setting a new Guinness record. Sixty-year old businessman Haji Motin came from Uttara to join the chorus. “Today I have sung the national anthem with students. It feels that I went back to my school days. I feel great to take part in such a great event,” he said. Shafiuddin Gazi from Dhanmondi led three generations. “We have joined the mass singing to set a world record. So far things have gone well; let’s hope for the best.” Representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records observed the entire event. Their report would determine whether it finds a place in the record book. People began gathering at the venue way before 6am, when the gates were to open. Educational institutions, political, social and cultural organisations as well as transport and garments factory workers had come together to make history. The event began at 8am with a cultural function, staged by the Shilpakala Academy, featuring eminent artistes. The final singing will be preceded by a rehearsal. The Prime Minister arrived, sporting the national flag, around 10.30am. She joined the chorus of a thousand voices from a stage erected at the north side of the 9th Sector of the Parade Square. Draped in a white Jamdani saree with red-green border, the head of the government waved at all. In response, the participants fluttered the national flag in their hands. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, former planning minister AK Khandker, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Army Chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, Navy Chief Muhammad Farid Habib and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Muhammad Enamul Bari, and the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Mahbubul Haque Shakil were on the stage. By then, 231,000 people were already at the square. Some 251,000 people joined the first rehearsal at 10.55am, while 254,681 people lent their voice in the final singing. Before the singing began, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a brief speech, appealed to all present to boost their spirit of independence with the national anthem. “Bengalis always create history. They will again make new history. We express our love for the country and the people through our national anthem; it inspires me with the spirit of independence; tens of thousands of us will sing the song that will become a part of world history,” she said. Hasina greeted all participants along with the event organisers, political leaders, school, college and university students, Border Guard Bangladesh, police, RAB, Ansar and VDP personnel, garment workers, women, children, and cultural activists. A headcount was done every time an individual was let in. There was an automatic counting machine at each entrance. A gate along with the counting system was also erected at the entry of the special podium made for the Prime Minister and other VIPs. Many came draped in the national flag and wore green-red bandanas around their heads. The parade ground was divided into 15 sectors to maintain order. Every participant was given a cap and a bag containing the national flag, a certificate, and a card containing the national anthem and relevant rules, water bottle, juice, and saline. A big screen, set up in each sector, showed the strength of the gathering at regular intervals. A special podium was set up for the Prime Minister and important persons on the north side of the 9th Sector, while the ministers, MPs, diplomats and others were seated on the southern side. The main stage was set up opposite the Prime Minister’s podium. The event began at 8am with a cultural function staged by the Shilpakala Academy featuring eminent artistes. The final singing was preceded by two rounds of rehearsal. The Prime Minister and cabinet members also joined the rehearsal. “I can’t express my feelings in words,” Minister Asaduzzaman Noor told bdnews24.com after the event. Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said, “It is us who can do it.” Garment worker Hosne Ara Begum, on her way back home from the mass singing event, said, “At first I felt bad in the sun. Now I am feeling good. I used to sing the national anthem in school. This time I have sung with so many people.” Nazibur Rahman Saikat, a student of Nabab Habibullah Model School, said he had enjoyed the whole thing though he had to remain standing for quite a while. Md Arifur Rahman of Titumir College said he had woken up at 4am and left home at 5am. “I arrived here at 7am. I took all this trouble for the world record,” he said. Artistes from various fields expressed their solidarity with the event. The Cultural Affairs Ministry was in charge of the programme, while the army was tasked with the management. Some people fell ill in the sun. At least 30 were treated in a medical camp set up by the army at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. – bdnews24.com