Preservation and promotion of Abdul Alim's songs
Bangladesh is a land of rich folk cultural heritage. Folk songs flow in the blood of Bangladeshi people. Legendary folk singer Abdul Alim is a pioneering folk singer of Bangladesh. His songs are still popular in the hearts of the people even after his death in 1974. But his songs may go into oblivion with the passage of time.
Fortunately, to preserve and promote legendary Abdul Alim's songs, Abdul Alim Foundation has taken an initiative where Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO is providing overall assistance. The organisations are working on the theme “Preservation and Promotion of the Songs of Abdul Alim, the Legendary folk singer of Bangladesh”. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy is giving strategic assistance to the great cause. A folk artistes' talent hunt programme has recently been launched across Bangladesh. All the 64 districts of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Rangpur divisions are under the artistes' selection programme.
The artistes aspiring to participate in the event are establishing contact with the authority of Shilpakala Academy of the concerned divisions. Artistes are taking part in the competition at the auditorium of each divisional headquarter. The organisers have so far arranged seminars and talent hunt competitions on Abdul Alim's songs in several divisions --Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet. They are holding the same events in the other divisions confirming the participation of musical talents of all the districts of Bangladesh.
Initially, two folk song researchers and two folk artistes from each district will vie for the divisional level competition. Later,the two best artistes and researcher will be selected from each division to perform in a programme to be held in Dhaka. The selected artiste will give a list of Abdul Alim's song to the researchers. The researchers will conduct a seminar on Abdul Alim's songs at each division. Five eminent music experts will select the best two artistes.
A high-quality DVD of the grand programme will be produced. The proceeds of the sale of the DVD will be distributed among the poor and the disadvantaged participants. This would help the poor participants to continue their practice of Abdul Alim's Songs. A four-colour souvenir with inputs on the life and works of Abdul Alim, a list of his songs, photographs and news of the seminars and particulars of all participants, message of ministers and government high officials and personalities concerned will also be published in the souvenir. Folk singer Jahir Alim, also the president of Abdul Alim Foundation and a son of the legend, is taking part in every divisional programme.