Bangladesh Breaks Human Flag, National Anthem World Records on Victory Day · Global Voices
পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)

The world’s largest human national flag of Bangladesh created at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka on 16 December, 2013, marking Victory Day. Photo by Indrajit Ghosh. Copyright Demotix (16/12/2013)
On 16 December, the 43rd Victory Day commemorating the triumph of Bangladesh over Pakistan in the country's Liberation War in 1971, Bangladesh broke two world records. The first one was forming the world's biggest “human” national flag. 27,117 volunteers from the Bangladesh Army, educational institutions and the general public stood with red and green placards to form the flag in Dhaka's National Parade Ground. The flag was visible for 6 minutes and 16 seconds.
The second record was the largest number of people singing the national anthem simultaneously, with more than 300,000 people at exactly 16:31 on 16 December singing “Amar Sonar Bangla” marking the exact moment that Pakistani forces surrendered. Many people from Bangladesh and also from different corners of the world joined in the event, which was held in Suhrawardi Uddan, the precise location of Pakistan's surrender.
Mahbub Ashrafi caught the singing on film and uploaded in YouTube:
Pakistan held the previous record for the largest human flag. 24,200 people held up green and white boxes at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore on 31 October, 2012. India held the previous record for singing the national anthem, with 121,653 people singing simultaneously.
Tens and thousands of people joined in singing Bangladesh's national anthem at Suhrawardy Udyan on Victory Day in Dhaka. Photo by Mamunur Rashid. Copyright Demotix (16/12/2013)
Most Bangladeshis were particularly proud and happy about these world record feats, thanking organizers for the good news. Ishtiaque Ahmed hailed the news:
বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে বড় “মানব পতাকা” তৈরি করে গিনেজ রেকর্ড গড়ার জন্য ২৭,১১৭ স্বেচ্ছাসেবিকে অভিনন্দন । লাল সবুজের বিশ্ব জয়, হবেই হবে। #Shahbag
— Ishtiaq Ahmad (@Ishtiaq_Ahmad) December 16, 2013
Thanks to the 27,117 volunteers for the world's largest human flag. Red and green winning the world, yes we can!
Sk. Soyeb Hasan recorded behind the scenes how the human flag event was organized and uploaded the footage to YouTube:
Abir Hasan was proud to be Bangladeshi:
Bangladesh now holds the record for largest human flag and most number of people singing the national anthem….. Feeling proud #Bangladesh
— Abir hassan (@Abir107) December 16, 2013
It is claimed that up to three million people died in the Bangladesh genocide during the struggle for independence in 1971. This is also a record. Cyber Association of Bangladesh remembered that horrible fact with these two records:
গিনেস বুকে বাংলাদেশের সবচেয়ে বড় মানব পতাকার কথা আজ অনেকেই ইতোমধ্যে জেনে গেছেন।
আমি আরো একটি তথ্য দেই – গিনেস বুক অব রেকর্ডস অনুযায়ী ১৯৭১ সালে বাংলাদেশে সংগঠিত গণহত্যা বিশ শতকে সংগঠিত হওয়া নৃশংসতম পাঁচটি গণহত্যার মধ্যে একটি ।
কার্টেছিঃ একেম সাঈদ
You have already heard about these two Guinness Book of World Records milestones.
Also to note – According to the same records, the Bangladesh genocide in 1971 is one of the five most cruel genocides of the world.
Courtesy: AKM Sayeed
People sing the national anthem at 4:31 p.m. at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Image by Indrajit Ghosh. Copyright Demotix (December 16, 2013)
Bangladesh got their independence by fighting a nine-month long liberation war and winning against Pakistan. Blogger Maruf wrote:
সবচেয়ে বেশি ভালো লাগছে যে, এই মহান বিজয় দিবসে আমরা পাকিস্তানের গড়া রেকর্ড ভেঙ্গে বিশ্বজয় করলাম। পাকিস্তানকে আমরা আরও একবার পরাজিত করলাম।
I am pleased with the fact that on this auspicious day of victory we have broken Pakistan's record. We have once again defeated Pakistan.
Farhan Bashar participated in the national anthem singing event at Suhrawardi Uddan. He shared his experience:
What a pleasant feeling bestows on my heart as I sing our enchanting national anthem and declare my unity with the positive force of independence & victory loving people of my country. May all the independent & liberation opposing forces go and burn in inferno.