“I wake up every day with new hopes and realisations” - Fahmida Nabi

On February 28, 2020, eminent singer and cultural personality Fahmida Nabi went to visit her sister, Tanzida Nabi Antora and her daughter Anmol in the UK. She was unable to return to Dhaka, due to the nationwide shutdown and travel restrictions. The artiste is currently at her sister's house in London. She is keeping herself busy with writing, cooking, reading books, and watching movies at the moment. She is also participating in live discussions on the coronavirus pandemic on Facebook, with other artistes from across the world.

As coronavirus cases are rapidly increasing in Bangladesh, Fahmida is concerned about the nation's safety. "I understand that we are a developing country, where majority of the population have to go out to feed their families. However, many are still taking this issue casually, which I feel really upset about. They are not only putting themselves in danger, but also risking the lives of their loved ones," she added.

Nevertheless, Fahmida believes that the war against the coronavirus has brought nations and all of mankind together.  "As this is a call of nature, we are helpless," she said. "I feel that there will be a new world after this pandemic, where humans will learn how to lead their lives while nurturing nature."

The anxiety and panic surrounding the pandemic are also taking a toll on people's mental health. "It is indeed a really frustrating time, but I am trying to focus on positive things," added Fahmida. "I wake up every day with new hopes and realisations."

The artiste also spoke about her concerns regarding the music industry, as it is a difficult time for artistes, especially freelance performers. "It is sad that we do not have a proper royalty system for our artistes. If we had such procedures in place, our musicians would have gained financial support at this time," explained Fahmida.

She further believes that this crisis will make people more empathetic. "I think that we are going through a moment of pause, before we hit a fresh start. We must recognise the little things in life that make us happy, as we move towards a new world, where we can have more scope for positivity," she said.