A farmer in Bangladesh’s Magura district has displayed a 7.5-kilometre-long German flag, the latest expansion of a personal project that began more than a decade ago after he said he recovered from a serious illness using German homeopathic medicine.
Amjad Hossain, 65, unveiled the flag on Wednesday at a school field in Nishchintapur village of Magura Sadar upazila.
The display drew local attention and marked another milestone in a project that has earned him recognition among German football supporters and visitors from abroad.
The farmer, from Ghoramara village, first came into the spotlight during the 2014 FIFA World Cup when he sold 10 decimals of land to finance the production of a 3.5-kilometre German flag.
Germany’s victory in that tournament strengthened his enthusiasm, and he has continued extending the flag during subsequent World Cups.
Over the years, the flag has grown steadily, reaching its current length of 7.5 kilometres. Amjad said the project has so far cost him around Tk500,000, with the money raised through the sale of portions of his land.
According to Amjad, his admiration for Germany is rooted in gratitude. He said he became a supporter of the country after regaining his health through treatment with German homeopathic medicine following a complex illness.
He recalled that after Germany won the 2014 World Cup, then German Chargé d’Affaires Dr Ferdinand von Weyhe visited his home in Ghoramara to see the flag.
During the visit, Amjad was made a member of a German fan club. He was later honoured at a reception organised at Magura Stadium.
Amjad said he intends to continue the project in the years ahead. If Germany wins the next World Cup, he plans to produce a flag measuring at least 20 kilometres by 2030.
He said encouragement from supporters in Bangladesh and abroad has motivated him to continue and expressed hope that future cooperation from well-wishers would allow him to take the initiative even further.
Local dignitaries and several prominent political figures from the town attended Wednesday’s flag exhibition programme.
