Remembering a luminary
Bashir Ahmed acquired rare success and continued to sing until months before his demise. Over the decades, his listeners never tired of him. He never compromised with music, and that's why his songs stood the test of time even when Indian songs hogged the music market.
I was on very good terms with Bashir Ahmed. I remember meeting him at a hospital about six months ago when I went to visit his ailing wife. He was happy to see me. We've performed together on stage, radio and TV on numerous occasions; probably the most memorable of them was when we performed at a programme in the US.
In fact the first song I sang on Bangladesh Television was a Bashir Ahmed number, titled “Chai Na Durey Shoriye Amaye”.
Subir Nandi
Bashir Ahmed is one of the top music exponents who has enriched Bangla music. He created his own niche. Years after he's gone, his songs will remain. What can be a greater achievement for an artiste? Despite shying from publicity, his songs have been favourites of people across generations -- something very few artistes are blessed with. He was a discerning singer, and often told me to be selective about songs.
Bashir Ahmed was not just a successful artiste, but a successful family man: a good husband and father who brought up his children well. He was a simple man, but very organised. He always said that every artiste should follow the path of struggle.
Compiled by Correspondent
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