National Symbols of Bangladesh

The **national symbols of the Bangladesh** consist of symbols to represent Bangladeshi traditions and ideals that reflect the different aspects of the cultural life and history. Bangladesh has several official national symbols including a historic document, a flag, an emblem, an anthem, memorial towers as well as several national heroes. There are also several other symbols including the national animal, bird, flower and tree.

## Musical nationalism

### National anthem

***Amar Sonar Bangla*** (আমার সোনার বাংলা, "To Love, To Sound, Bengal ") is song written and composed by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, the first ten lines of which were adopted in 1972 as the national anthem of Bangladesh. The song was written in 1905 during the period of বঙ্গভঙ্গ *Bônggôbhônggô*(Partition of Bengal (1905)) - when the ruling British empire had the province of Bengal split into two parts. This song, along with a host of others, was written by Tagore, a pioneer of the cultural and political movement against this partition. These songs were meant to rekindle the unified spirit of Bengal, to raise public consciousness against the communal political divide. The lyrics first appeared in the September issues of "Bongodorshon" and "Baul" simultaneously, in 1905. It is said that the music of this song was inspired by the Baul singer Gagan Harkara's song কোথায় পাবো তারে "*Kothay Pabo Tare*". The instrumental orchestra rendition was composed by Samar Das. The English translation was done by Syed Ali Ahsan.

### National march

**Notuner Gaan** (Bengali: নতুনের গান, Natunēra gāna) is the national march (Bengali: রণ-সঙ্গীত) of Bangladesh.[10] This song is written by Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet of Bangladesh (also known as 'rebel poet'), in 1929. This song is belongs to his famous book titled as *The Evening* (Sôndhya: সন্ধ্যা). Nazrul is the musician of the song too. On 13 January 1972, the ministry of Bangladesh has adopted this song as a *national marching song* on its first meeting after the country's independence. At any military ceremony or function, first 21 lines of the song is being played. It is also known as the national military song of Bangladesh.

### Honors song

**Ekusher Gaan** (Bengali: একুশের গান "The Song of Twentyfirst"), more popularly known (after its first line) as *Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano* (Bengali: আমার ভাইয়ের রক্তে রাঙানো "My Brothers' Blood Spattered") is a Bengali song written by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury to mark the Bengali Language Movement in 1952 East Pakistan. It was first published anonymously in the last page of a newspaper with the headline *Ekusher Gaan*, but was later published in *Ekushey*'s February edition. The song is often recognized as the most influential song of the language movement, reminding numerous Bangladeshis about the conflicts of 1952. Every 21 February sees people from all parts of the Bangladesh heading to the Shaheed Minar in the *probhat feri*, a barefoot march to the monument, paying homage to those killed in the language movement demonstrations by singing this song. It is regarded by the listeners of BBC Bengali Service as the third best song in Bengali.

## National monuments and memorials

### Shaheed Minar

The enormous design includes half-circular columns to symbolize the mother, with her fallen sons, standing on the monument's central dais, and the red sun shining behind. The Central Shaheed Minar of Dhaka goes up to a height of 14 metres (46 ft) and was made with marble stones. The stairs and barrier are highlighted in white, to create a divine look. The fence on both sides is painted with lines from poems of legendary poets in iron letters. As the visitors enter the monument they will find two statues of the patriots who sacrificed their lives in that heinous police firing of 1952. The marble floor was designed to reveal the moving shadows of the columns. The basement of the Shaheed Minar also included a 1,500-square-foot (140 m2) mural representing the history of the Language Movement.[24]
The Language Movement was one of the formidable movements which has come up in the country of Bangladesh, thus the Central Shaheed Minar epitomizes efforts to represent the spirit of Bangladeshi nationalism and also highlight the importance of the Bengali language in the social and cultural progress of the country. As a result, the Shaheed Minar has a very significant place in the social and cultural mechanism of Bangladesh. At present, all national, mourning, cultural and other activities held each year, regarding 21 February, have been centered around the Shaheed Minar.

### National Martyrs’ Memorial

The monument is composed of 7 isosceles triangular pyramid shaped structures, with the middle one being the tallest. The highest point of the monument is 150 feet. There is an artificial lake, and several mass graves in front of the main monument. There is a Green house, PWD site office, VVIP and VIP waiting room inside the area.

### Column of Independence

Many significant incidents took place in this place. On 7 March 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historical speech in this ground after Yahya Khan postponed the national assembly on March 1 of the year. In his speech Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman asked the people of Bangladesh to prepare themselves for Liberation War of Bangladesh. The main attraction of the project is a 50-meter high tower composed of stacked glass panels, which stands at the place where the Pakistani Instrument of Surrender was signed at the end of the Bengali War of Independence.[31]