All set for WC fiesta

The cricket World Cup extravaganza is set to open with all razzmatazz in the Bangladesh capital city of Dhaka on Thursday.

Promising to be a grand gala event, the opening ceremony begins at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here at 5:50pm. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will declare open the biggest cricket event, co-hosted by Bangladesh for the first time.

In the first phase of the five-part ceremony, the captains and the members of the 14 participating teams will stage a march in the stadium.

Singer Ebrar Tipu will arrive in a bedecked car to sing the welcome song, "O Prithibi, Ebar Eshey Banglake Nao Chiney…" (Hey world, come and know Bangladesh).

Recital of the close to six-minute welcome song, written by Zulfiqar Russell, has been composed by Ebrar and his group. Mila and Elita will sing the English version of the song.

The opening ceremony will feature the history of Bangladesh, starting since the 1952 Language Movement until the 1971 Liberation War, depicted through various types of choreography, songs and laser show.

Globally-acclaimed Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams, India's Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahdevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy, and Bangladesh's Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila and Momtaz will also perform at the event.

Theme song "De Ghumma Ke…" will be recited in four languages. The troika of music directors Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy from Bollywood has composed the song.

Indian artistes will stage a performance, "Symphony of Colours" and Sri Lankan artistes will present "The Pearl of Indian Ocean".

A dance performance under the direction of Shamim Ara Nipa and Shibly Mohammad follows next.

Around 2,100 school and college students and 350 members of the Armed Forces will present a cultural programme depicting the glorious Language Movement, War of Liberation, independent architect Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's historic March 7 speech, Bangla New Year and traditional dance of the indigenous communities.

It has been directed by Indian choreographer Santosh Sethji.

Bryan Adam will render two songs, while Sonu Nigam will sing songs in praise of the participating countries.

After that, a 60-foot dais will roll into the stadium with Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila and Mamtaz singing a song. They will sing for nine minutes in medley style.

Finally, Shankar Mahdevan will enter the stadium in a decorated car and sing the theme song again.

The opening ceremony will end with fireworks.