Bangladesh marks National Day at Global Village

Thousands of Bangladeshis watched as their national flag was unfurled and patriotic songs and dances were peformed at the Global Village yesterday as part of 30th Independence and National Day celebrations.

It was the first time the Bangladesh flag was raised at the main stage of the Global village on National Day following Dhaka's debut in this year's Dubai Shopping Festival. The cultural events were led with a dance performance, flanked by children with national flags, to the tune of a patriotic song which evoked the spirit of the liberation war.

A series of dances followed, mostly based on patriotic songs. There were also some folk dances including a tribal Monipuri dance, and classical and kathak dances offering a slice of Bangladesh's rich cultural heritage.

In the following fashion show, young men and women showcased some of the best traditional clothes, dress material, kurta, pyjama and sarees. The show was conceptualised around a love story in which a young man expresses his love to a young lady, who reacts with shyness and naivete. A boat dance reflected the fishermen's struggle against the elements - a common phenomenon in their lives. A drama based on the liberation war followed.

Earlier, the national flag was hoisted at the Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi by Ambassador Osman Sarwar Alam Chowdhury. "I take this opportunity to extend my heartiest felicitations to the 250,000-strong Bangladesh community who have been contributing to the development of the UAE since the beginning of our diplomatic relations in 1974," he said.