Govt to hold 3D show with 2,500 drones to depict July uprising
The show will be held on 19 Feb with Chinese assistance
As part of the Youth Festival 2025, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs is going to organise a drone light show to recreate iconic images from the July uprising in 3D along with music.
The event, featuring 2,500 drones, will be held on 19 February, at the National Parliament complex in Dhaka. It is expected that Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will attend the event.
According to ministry officials, the exact costs have not yet been finalised. However, the expenses for the drones, which will be sourced from China, are estimated to be around $500,000.
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They said Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki during a courtesy meeting with the Chinese ambassador on 9 December proposed the initiative, and the envoy assured support.
Md Mukhlesur Rahman Akand, joint secretary at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, told The Business Standard that a committee has been formed to calculate the total expenditure for the show.
Regarding the location, he added that they have initially selected parliament premises as the venue. "Feedback has been sought from various intelligence agencies regarding the security of the venue before finalising the location."
Mukhlesur further added that a five-member delegation from China is expected to visit Bangladesh on 16 January for venue inspection, and the location will be confirmed afterwards.
The show is also part of the celebration of the 50-year diplomatic relationship between Bangladesh and China, with China providing assistance for the show, he said, adding that Bangladesh will primarily cover the cost of storage and charging of the drones.
When contacted, Adviser Farooki said, "There is nothing to comment yet."
Ministry officials said the decision to organise the show was decided at an inter-ministerial meeting on 19 December. On 23 December, the ministry sent a letter to the Economic Relations Division to arrange foreign assistance for the show.
Before the event, a five-member team from China will visit Bangladesh to inspect the venue.
The Bangladesh government will cover the accommodation, catering, transportation, and fuel costs for the Chinese team.
Besides, a 15-member technical assistant team from Bangladesh will assist the Chinese team during the preparations.
Later, a 17-member technical team will arrive between 16 and 21 February to oversee the technical aspects of the event and eturn the drones.
