Khalid Hussain no more
Khalid Hussain, Ekushey Padak winner and one of the most prominent Nazrul exponents in the country, passed away while in hospital in the capital last night. He was 78.
He breathed his last at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 10:15pm, Mahmud Hussain, his younger brother, told the Daily Star.
The singer, who was known for singing Kazi Nazrul Islam’s Hamd, Naat, Islamic songs and
Ghazal, had heart and kidney related diseases, along with other old age complications.
Khalid’s first namaz-e-janaza was held last night at Minar Mosque in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area. His body will be taken to the premises of Hindol Academy, Nazrul Institute and Govt College of Music in Dhaka this morning for paying homage. He will be buried at his ancestral home in Kushtia, where his mother was buried, today.
“This is an irrepairable loss,” said Khairul Anam Shakil, Ekushey Padak winner and General Secretary at Bangladesh Nazrul Sangeet Sangstha. “Khaled Hussain was one of the architects of preserving the true essence of Nazrul Sangeet, and Bangladesh Nazrul Sangeet Sangstha started its journey under his guidance…
“Even at this age, being physically ill, he tried to be here for us as much as possible. He was an amazing Nazrul Sangeet artiste but he was capable of singing many different genres. He was well known for it since he was young. We have lost a mentor…Khaled Hussain will always be alive through his work.”
Eminent Nazrul Exponent Sadya Afreen Mallick said, “Khalid Hussain was a tireless exponent of Nazrul songs…. His absence will be deeply felt across Nazrul enthusiasts…”
“Nazrul wrote and composed around 400 Islamic songs -- belonging to Hamd, Naat, Marsia and motivational sub-genres. Of them, about 300 are available,” Khalid had said, known particularly for his emotive renditions of Nazrul’s Islamic songs, in an earlier interview with The Daily Star.
Khalid Hussain was born on December 4, 1940, in Kolkata. He has several solo albums to his credits. Khalid, president of Bangladesh Nazrul Sangeet Sangstha, had numerous students, fans and well-wishers both at home and abroad. Apart from receiving the Ekushey Padak in 2000, Khalid was honoured with multiple recognitions, including the Nazrul Academy Award and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award.