Bangladesh PM declares open South Asian Games

Dhaka: Innumerable colourful balloons went up the sky and hundreds of pigeons were set free when the 11th

edition of the South Asian Games was declared open by the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a glittering opening ceremony here today. The three-and-half-hour long opening ceremony got off to a gala start in front of a packed Bangabandhu National Stadium stadium as about 12,000 school students, 1300 paramilitary force personnel and 1000 Army men portrayed country`s culture and heritage in various art forms. With a display of `Welcome to Dhaka` in galleries, the ceremony began with the national anthem of Bangladesh -- `Aamar Sonar Bangla` (my golden/beloved Bengal) penned by Rabindranath Tagore -- and was followed by the march past of eight participating nations. Bengali alphabetical order was followed in the march past with Afghanistan coming in front, ahead of Nepal, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh coming in last. National badminton champion Chetan Anand holding the tri-colour led the Indian contingent in a rather sedate march past as the Indian athletes were handful in numbers. Members of the other participating countries kept on waving their respective flags, even as Indians chose to just marched down the lane. After welcome song by Andrew Kishore and Shabina Yasmin, the 12-day meet was officially opened with Prime Minister Hasina saying, "I declare the 11th South Asian Games open," and balloons, pigeons were released. The Games` sacred flame was lit by Bangladesh legendary footballer Kazi Mohammed Salahuddin. The torch relay began with Ateequr Rahman (shooting) as it was passed on to Zeenat Ahmed (women`s sport federation), Mohammed Mosharafe Hossain (boxing), Bazlur Rahman (swimming), Jewel Rana (football), Roqibul Hasan (cricket), Lutfunnesa Haque Bakool (WSF), Golam Mostafa (freedom fighter), Akram Khan (cricket), Shahana Parveen (shooting), Mahbub Alam (athletics) before reaching in the hands of Salahuddin. Olympian sprinter Beauty Nazmun Nahar and Bangladesh football captain and goalkeeper Aminul Haque took the oath on behalf of all the participants. Tableaux of fawn (mascot of 1985 SA Games), tiger cub (1993 mascot) and magpie robin (2010 mascot) did a round of the athletic track that marked the beginning of cultural dance programme. A play based on Nachole`s Queen, Brotochari Dance, Santal Dance were the highlights of the cultural programme. A charismatic aquatic show, billed as the first in the sub-continent, displayed the concert for Bangladesh`s Independence hosted by Pt Ravi Shankar and Beatles star George Harrison and the March 7 address of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on a giant water screen with laser beams. Heavy drum beats reverberated the ground as the programmed drew to a close leaving a lasting impression on the spectators. PTI