The long wait of the cricket fans will be over within a few hours.
The World Cup Cricket, the biggest sporting event to be staged in Bangladesh, kicks off at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday afternoon with a spectacular opening function.
The magnificent show will start at 5:50pm at the new-look BNS after a 55-minute pre-show that will begin at 4:55pm.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to declare the meet open.
The opening programme has been divided into five parts. In the first part, a beautifully decorated rickshaw named “Lead” will carry 14 captains and it will be followed by members of their 14 teams joining the march past.
The gala programme kicks off with singer Abrar Tipu entering the stadium on a superbly decorated car and singing a ‘welcome song’.
The welcome song begins with “O Prithibi, Ebar ashey Banglake now chiney.. O prithibi, Ebar ashey Banglake now chiney (Hey the world, now is the time to know about Bangladesh).
The opening ceremony of the World Cup Cricket will present the history of Bangladesh starting from 1952 Language Movement to 1971 Liberation War through various forms of dances, songs, choreography and dazzling laser show.
The grand gala show begins with “Hey the world, now is the time to know about Bangladesh” — the mesmerizing ‘welcome song’ which is expected to set the stand on fire.
World renowned Canadian rock star Bryan Adams, India’s Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahdevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy and Bangladesh’s Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila and Mumtaz are expected to enthrall the crowd with their mesmerizing voices.
The welcome song is the inaugural item of the grand gala opening ceremony of the first ever World Cup Cricket in Bangladesh, which kicks off on February 19, and it will depict the history of Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium in the capital.
This will be followed by the official ‘theme song’ – ‘De Ghumma Ke” to be sung in four languages.
The welcome song begins with “O Prithibi. Ebar ashey Banglake now chiney.. O prithibi,. Ebar ashey Banglake now chiney. (Hey the world. now is the time to know about Bangladesh.).
The 5.40-minute-long ‘welcome song’ written by Zulfiqar Russell will be directed by famous music director and singer Ebrar Tipu and his group. The English version will be sung by Mila and Elita.
The song is superbly composed asking the world that this is the time to know Bangladesh, its culture and heritage. Then the song depicts the 23-year arduous movement led by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman starting from 1952 Language Movement to War of Liberation in 1971.
In the concluding part, the song will urge the visitors to come and witness the beauty of Bangladesh and its charming mangrove forest and world famous sprawling coastline and people’s mad desire to win.
Bollywood’s famous team of music directors Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy has composed the official theme song of World Cup 2011.
They have composed the three versions of the song titled ‘De Ghumaa Ke’ in Bengali, Hindi and Sinhalese. The tournament, which will start on February 19, will be held in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The theme song ‘De Ghumaa Ke’ is a very passionate number aimed to create the fierce sense of competition and the strong desire to win. The term literally means ‘Hit It Hard’ and it is one word used by all the cricket fanatics for their favorite player and team.
India’s celebrated event ‘Symphony of Colours’ and Sri Lanka’s celebrated event ‘The Pearl of Indian Ocean’ will be performed for 20 minutes.
Then a dance programme directed by Shamim Ara Nipa and Shibly Mohamnmad will be performed for 20 minutes.
A cultural programme depicting the glorious Language Movement, War of Liberation, Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech, Bangla New Year, cultural dance of Chakma, Rakhine, Marma, Shautal and Garo tribes will be presented by 2,100 school and college students and 350 members of the Armed Forces. This programme is choreographed by famous Indian Santosh Sethji.
Rock star Bryan Adam, 51, who was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada will be rendering two songs to ignite the grand gala evening show.
Bryan has won almost all the international awards. He is also the holder of Order of Canada and Order of British Colombia and his standing as a hit artist is at 38th number as one of the most popular rock stars in the 150 years of rock music.
India’s one of the most popular singers Sonu Nigam is expected to sing songs on the participating countries in this World Cup. During Sonu’s song, the specially designed rickshaw named `Lead’ will enter the stadium with 14 ICC captains riding on it.
Then a 60-foot dais will roll into the stadium with Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila and Mumtaz singing a song. They will sing for 9 minutes in medley style.
Finally, in a well-decorated car, Shankar Mahdevan will enter the stadium and sing the theme song composed by Bollywood’s famous team of music directors Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy.
The opening function will be rounded off with an eye- catching firework brought in from China.
On the occasion of the World Cup Cricket, the city wore a festive look as all roads and road-islands were decorated with flags of 14 participating teams, placards and festoons. The roads and road islands were illuminated with colorful lights.
Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will air live the inaugural function of the ICC Cricket World Cup from Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Besides, BTV and Bangladesh Betar will broadcast a number of matches of World Cup Cricket.