Aquatic show, Bangaldeshi culture part of SAG Opening ceremony

Dhaka: A grand opening ceremony, showcasing tradition and culture of Bangladesh has been planned to open

the 11th edition of the South Asian Games at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Friday. An aquatic show would be the main attarction of the three-and-half hour long opening ceremony which will begin at 4:00 pm local time. In that show, a concert hosted by Pt Ravi Shankar and Beatles star George Harrison for Bangladesh`s Independence Day and the March 7 address of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be displayed in a water screen. A play based on Nachole`s Queen, Brotochari Dance, Santal Dance will also be the highlight of the opening ceremony. For the closing ceremony on February 9, the BOA has planned a 15-minute intense fireworks display. Around 11,800 school students, 1300 paramilitary force known as Ansars, 1000 Army men will be presenting shows in the opening function. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Games while IOC member and secretary general of IOA Randhir Singh and General Arif Khan, vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia, will be part of the dignitaries, present at the occasion. Chinese and French choreographers will be guiding the local school students, defense personnel and the artists to curve out a splendid show, said Maj Gen (Rtd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury, the convener of the SA Games Ceremonies Committee. "The grand opening and closing ceremony will make a lasting impression in the minds of not only the people of Bangladesh but also the people of the sub-continent," said BOA secretary general Qutubuddin Ahmed. He further said the Games have been organised at a budget of 170 crore Bangladeshi Taka with the government supporting with BDT 122 crore. Earlier yesterday, BOA president and Army chief Gen Abdul Mubeen received the Games torch from Sri Lanka`s acting High Commissioner to Bangladesh C Munasinghe at the BNS. The torch was handed over to the chairman of the ceremonies committee Maj Gen (retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury. It will be finally handed over to footballer Kazi Salahuddin who will kindle the 100 feet cauldron at the BNS tomorrow. The 11th edition of the Games was scheduled to take place in November 2008 but due to the general elections, the South Asian Olympic Council decided against hosting the meet in 2009 and postponed it to this year. PTI