The country yesterday set a new world record as over 2.5 lakh people sang the National anthem in chorus celebrating the 43rd anniversary of Independence Day at the National Parade Ground in the city.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the programme titled Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla along with her ministers and lawmakers.
The organisers, cultural affairs ministry and the Armed Forces Division targeted to mobilise at least three lakh people to lend their voice to the singing of the National anthem together to surpass the last year’s Indian record that saw 121,653 people.
The entire 4km parade square was divided into 15 sectors to accommodate the participants in a disciplined manner.
With the headcount by counting machines each participant entered the venue strictly monitored by Guinness record officials through video cameras.
Each participant was given a pack of dry food, medicine and a miniature national flag and a cap.
In the middle of the square, a big podium was erected on which Sheikh Hasina, ministers and other dignitaries stood.
People from all walks of life entered through the makeshift gates on the eastern and western sides of the venue. Crowds from the parade ground spilled out onto the adjacent streets to be the part of the mammoth event.
Sheuli, 30, got up at dawn. But yesterday it was different from her usual routine: no monotonous sewing in the garment factory amid noise of the machines.
She had been eagerly waiting for this day, March 26, when she planned to don the newly-made green and red salwar-kameez matching the national flag that cost her Tk700.
Sheuli had to walk eight kilometre to join the programme.
“Walking this long distance is difficult but I had no problem. If so many people can walk, why should not I,” Sheuli told the Dhaka Tribune.
Walking for two hours at a stretch and waiting in the queue for one more hour, Sheuli and her colleagues could finally enter the venue around 9:00 am.
The clock ticked away. At 8:10am one lakh people joined. With the clock striking 9:40am the number of people stood at two lakh.
A large number of people stood on the roads and pavements outside the parade square wall.
At 11:05am actor Afzal Hossain announced that 254,681 people gathered, according to the machines.
“But we think more than three lakh people have joined us,” he said, before two rehearsals were done after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked people for turning up at the parade square.
Afzal then gave a call to people to lend their voice to the National Anthem with renowned singers on the central stage.
The entire area adjacent to the parade ground reverberated with the people singing in chorus “Amar Sonar Bangla, Ami Tomay Bhalobashi” (my golden Bangla, I love you).
“Yes, we have made the world record; thank you very much,” announced the presenter amid huge jubilation.
Many of participants, however, expressed their anger over the medicines distributed to the participants by a Jamaat-owned company.
“The government rejected the donation of the Islami Bank but Ibn Sina Pharmaceutical Company distributed paracetamol, anti-acid tablets and oral saline packs.
This is company of the same group Islami Bank belongs to. This is absolutely objectionable,” Raufur Rahim, a student of Tejgaon College, said.