Bangladesh sets national anthem chorus singing Guinness record

Dhaka: Tens of thousands of Bangladeshi volunteers along with the country's head of the government on Wednesday sang the national anthem in chorus in capital Dhaka on the country's Independence Day in a bid to breach the Guinness World Record.

Bangladeshi people sing the national anthem at 4.31 pm, the exact moment when the Pakistan army surrendered on this day in 1971, as they gather at a rally to mark the country's Victory Day in Dhaka on December 16, 2013. Pic: AFP

Organisers said 254,681 volunteers from the Bangladesh Army, educational institutions and the general public sang the national anthem in chorus around 11 am, Xinhua reported.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accompanied by a large number of her cabinet members, also sang in unison the national anthem, "Amar Sonar Bangla Ami Tomai Bhalobash (My Golden Bengal, I Love You)"

Organisers earlier said the main objective of this event was not only to celebrate Bangladesh's Independence Day which fell on Wednesday but also to show the world the inner strength and unity of the people of the nation.

According to the organisers, previously, in May 2013, an Indian organisation had set a Guinness Book record by arranging the singing of the Indian national anthem by 121,653 people.

Bangladesh's ministry of cultural affairs, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Army and other government and non-government organizations arranged the event titled "Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla (Sonar Bangla in tens of thousands of voices)".

After successful completion of the incredible event, the organisers said all the relevant documents and images will be sent to the Guinness World Record committee for validation.

Guinness-accredited representatives were present to oversee the event.

Tens of thousands of Bangladeshi volunteers in December last year formed the world's biggest national flag in a bid to breach the Guinness World Record.