Prothom Bangladesh
| "Prothom Bangladesh" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Shahnaz Rahmatullah | |
| Language | Bengali |
| Released | Late 1970s |
| Genre | Patriotic |
| Length | 3:40 |
| Songwriter(s) | Moniruzzaman Monir |
| Composer(s) | Alauddin Ali |
| Producer(s) | Bangladesh Television |
| Music video | |
| Prothom Bangladesh from Bangladesh Nationalist Party's official channel on YouTube | |
| English: The First is Bangladesh | |
|---|---|
| প্রথম বাংলাদেশ | |
Proposed national anthem of Bangladesh Party anthem of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party | |
| Adopted | 1979 (state; de facto co-official) |
| Readopted | 1980s (BNP) |
| Relinquished | 1981 (state) |
| Preceded by | "Amar Sonar Bangla" |
| Succeeded by | "Amar Sonar Bangla" |
"Prothom Bangladesh" (Bengali: প্রথম বাংলাদেশ, lit. 'The First is Bangladesh') is a Bengali language patriotic song by Shahnaz Rahmatullah.[1] Moniruzzaman Monir wrote and Alauddin Ali composed the song. The song was first broadcast in a TV program on Bangladesh Television in the late 1970s.[2] It's the party anthem of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Previously, the song was also proposed for the national anthem of Bangladesh.
Proposal for national anthem
According to the journalist Azizul Islam Bhuiya, on 12 December 1978, the song was proposed for the national anthem by the BNP leader Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf during a session over the change of the national flag and the anthem of the country, which the party founder and president Ziaur Rahman reportedly assured.[3]
On 30 April 1979, Shah Azizur Rahman, then-prime minister, sent a secret letter to the Cabinet Division which stated that Amar Sonar Bangla was contradictory with the "spirit of the culture of Bangladesh", as, according to him, Rabindranath Tagore, the writer of the song, was not a citizen of Bangladesh, and was already the writer of the Indian national anthem. He instead proposed this song as the new national anthem.[4] Upon receiving the letter, the Cabinet Division issued instructions to broadcast the song on radio, television and all government programmes. Meanwhile, the proposed national anthem started singing along with Amar Sonar Bangla at the presidential functions. However, the initiative stalled after Rahman was assassinated in 1981.[5]
Party anthem of the BNP
According to singer Baby Naznin, the song was a favorite of Rahman. It was performed at the beginning and end of his events. When Baby and other artists used to sing it on stage, Rahman and his wife Khaleda Zia would also sing along sometimes.[6] Around the 1980s, the song was announced as the official anthem of Rahman's party BNP. However in 2018, the singer Shahnaz Rahmatullah and composer Alauddin Ali claimed that the party is using the song as the official anthem without their permission.[7]
Incidents
In 2016, Bangladesh Betar fired 6 employees for broadcasting the song during the 2016–17 budget session of the Jatiya Sangsad.[8] In 2025, during a cultural program organized by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Kishoreganj, controversy arose when the on-duty cultural officer interrupted the performance of the song.[9]
References
- ^ Molla, Mohammad Al-Masum (29 March 2019). "What more can the world expect from a Singer?". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023.
- ^ Saad, Saimum (30 June 2018). গানের কোথাও 'বিএনপি' শব্দ আনিনি: মনিরুজ্জামান মনির [I did not bring the word 'BNP' anywhere in the song: Moniruzzaman Monir]. Bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ Bhuiya, Azizul Islam (2007). বিএনপি ও সাম্প্রদায়িক রাজনীতি (in Bengali). Srabon Prokashoni. p. 13.
- ^ যে ৩ সময়ে 'জাতীয় সংগীত' পরিবর্তনের উদ্যোগ নেয়া হয়েছিল [During which 3 initiatives were taken to change the 'National Anthem']. Jugantor (in Bengali). 7 August 2019. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ আগেও 'সোনার বাংলা' বদলাতে চেয়েছেন অনেক বড় বড় নাম, তবে ঝড় তুলেছেন নোবেলই! [Earlier, many big names wanted to change 'Golden Bangla', but it was Nobel who raised a storm!]. Ei Samay Sangbadpatra (in Bengali). 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "বিশেষ সাক্ষাৎকার : বেবী নাজনীন প্রথম বাংলাদেশ আমার শেষ বাংলাদেশ গানটি যেন বাংলাদেশের প্রতিচ্ছবি" [Special Interview: Baby Naznin – "Prothom Bangladesh, Amar Shesh Bangladesh" is like a reflection of Bangladesh]. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 29 November 2024.
- ^ Saad, Saimum (22 June 2018). 'প্রথম বাংলাদেশ' কীভাবে বিএনপির দলীয় সংগীত, প্রশ্ন শিল্পী-সুরকারের [How is 'Prothom Bangladesh' becomes the party anthem of BNP, the question of the artist-composer]. Bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ 'প্রথম বাংলাদেশ' গান বাজিয়ে শাস্তির মুখে ১৬ কর্মকর্তা-কর্মচারী [16 officers-employees face punishment for playing 'Prothom Bangladesh' song]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 5 June 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ জিয়াকে নিয়ে গান বন্ধ করলেন কর্মকর্তা. Desh Rupantor (in Bengali). 11 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.