Joy Bangla Concert 2018 paid tribute to Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech and celebrated the strong spirit and courageous zeal of the Bangladeshi youth.
Jointly organized by Young Bangla, a leading youth organisation, and the Center for Research and Information (CRI), a non-profit policy research organization, the fourth edition of Joy Bangla Concert celebrated the spirit of liberation through the revolutionary songs of Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, which were performed by eight leading bands-Powersurge, Arbovirus, Shunno, Nemesis, Cryptic Fate, Lalon, Chirkutt and Artcell, along with their regular numbers.
The whole stage lit up as the band members entered the premises and were welcomed by loud cheers and applause. The venue, Army Stadium in Dhaka, was packed. According to the organizers, more than 32,000 people registered online for this year’s concert.
Bangabandhu’s grandson and CRI’s trustee Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources state minister Nasrul Hamid were present at this year’s event.
The gates of the event’s venue, Banani Army Stadium, opened at 1:30pm and the show started at 3:30pm.
The concert opened with a rendition of the famous patriotic song “Purbo Digonte Surjo Utheche” performed by a group of talented youngsters. After their performance, the main event started with a rendition of another famous patriotic song, “Maa Go Bhabna Keno,” by popular rock band Powersurge.
This was the first time the band performed as headliners for the Joy Bangla Concert. They also performed their own tracks “Auprostut Juddho,” “Agnisnan,” and “Mitther Agrason.” Furthermore, they covered James’ famous tracks “Sultana Bibiana” and “Beder Meye Josna.”
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The concert held up the fiery spirit of the March 7 speech by Bangabandhu whose pictures were being shown on screens all around the concert venue
Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune[/caption]
After Powersurge’s performance, alternative rock band Arbovirus took to the stage. They put on their own rendition of “Amra Korbo Joy” and performed their original tracks “Jalo Agun Jalo,” “Shohor,” “Hariye Jao,” and “Omanush.”
Subsequently, a promo on “Mujib,” the graphic novel based on the life of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was shown and then Shunno began their performance.
Shunno performed tracks including “Cholo Aj Firey Jai Godhulir Opaare” and “Shoto Asha” along with renditions of “Joy Bangla Banglar Joy,” “Sonadia Bandhaiyasi Ghor,” and “Shono Jonogon.”
After Shunno left the stage, a video clip from the UNESCO chief declaring the 7 March speech by Bangabandhu as part of their world’s documentary heritage was shown to the audience.
Next, popular band Nemesis performed their rendition of “Rokto diye naam Likhechhi/ Bangladesh Er Naam” as well as their original tracks including “Bir,” “Kobe,” and “Ghuri,” before an animated short on how the historical March 7 speech came into being was screened along with the full video of the speech.
Later on, heavy metal band Cryptic Fate performed “Teer Hara Ei Dheu Er Shagor” along with their original tracks “Voboghure,” “Cholo Bangladesh,” and more on stage.
Lalon, Chirkutt and Artcell also surprised the audiences with their dazzling performances on the stage of this year’s Joy Bangla Concert.
Moreover, this was also the first time Young Bangla took the musical show outside Dhaka covering Sylhet and Khulna on March 2 and 5 respectively. The tour titled ‘Road to 7th March Concert’ was held on Friday at the Abul Mal Abdul Muhit Sports Complex playground with the performance of the leading rock bands Mechanix and Nemesis who performed again on Monday (March 5) at the Circuit House ground in Khulna.
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