Contradictory remarks by Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu on Tuesday over financial support of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited [IBBL] for ‘Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla’ [Sonar Bangla by Millions] programme created widespread confusion among the people.
When Inu sharply criticized for taking financial assistance from IBBL and asked the cultural ministry to return the donated money, Noor outright rejected the allegation of taking financial aid from the IBBL and termed it a ‘big rumour.’
The ministers, speaking in different voices, have given birth to the confusion whether government has accepted donation from the bank to fund an Independence Day event where thousands are expected to sing the national anthem to set a world record.
Inu fueled the controversy when he commented that the money donated by IBBL should be returned. Later, the rumour went wild in the social media websites, including facebook, where several posted negative comments over the issue of money taking. Country’s newspapers and electronic media ran reports along with photographs that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was receiving cheque amounting to Tk 3 crore from a high official of IBBL at Gono Bhaban on March 14 where Finance Minister AMA Muhith and PM’s adviser Dr Towfique Elahi Chowdhury, among others, were present.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on March 14 received donations for the Independence Day event and the T20 World Cup from telecom companies, corporate institutes, power companies, state and private banks, and insurance companies.
In this backdrop, Noor yesterday arranged a press briefing at his office apparently to deny the whole arrangement and turn down Inu’s comment about taking money from the controversial IBBL for the Independence Day’s programme.
“No donation has been taken from IBBL for the March 26 programme. No cheque was accepted from IBBL, although donations have been accepted from other banks. Even the IBBL was also not invited in the bankers meeting for financial support,” Noor said. He said, “The national anthem is part of our soul. We did not accept any kind of such aid, which will hurt people’s emotions. The emotion of countrymen is involved with the anthem.”
Though there is no legal bar about taking aid from IBBL as it’s a legal commercial bank, we didn’t involve them and anyone can check it,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, the gigantic programme on, ‘Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla’, will be held at 11:00 am on March 26 — the Independence Day — with participation of at least 300,000 people at Parade Square in the capital city.
It has been organized under the auspices of cultural ministry in a bid to set a record on singing the national anthem at Guinness World Record. At present, India got the world record for arranging its national anthem with participation of 122,000 people. About the programme, Noor further said, “Country’s famous artistes will take part in a cultural programme on the day. A theme song for the programme will be telecast from Wednesday.” On the day, the gates of parade Square will be closed at 10:00am sharp. At the same time, the attending people will be counted automatically through digital machines. There will be 6000 blocks where fifty people will stand in each.
The officials of Guinness World Record will oversee whether all participants are singing or not. Even if less than five percent will not take part in chorus, the programme will not be qualified for global record.
