Andrew Kishore’s funeral on July 15

Legendary playback singer Andrew Kishore's funeral will be held on July 15, his brother-in-law Dr Patrick Bipul Biswas said yesterday.

He will be buried at the cemetery of the Church of Bangladesh near Rajshahi Circuit House on the same day, he said.

He said it has been slightly delayed so that Kishore's son and daughter, who live in Australia, have enough time to reach Rajshahi to attend their father's funeral.

Kishore's son Joy Andrew Soptok is likely to land in Bangladesh tonight and reach Rajshahi tomorrow. But his daughter Minim Andrew Songya is unable to return before July 14 night, he said.

"If all goes well, his funeral will be carried out according to plan," Dr Biswas told The Daily Star.

Andrew Kishore breathed his last at his elder sister Dr Shikha Biswas and her husband Dr Patrick Biswas' house in Mahishabathan area of ​​Rajshahi on Monday evening.

His body was kept in the mortuary of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

His body will be taken to Rajshahi City Church in Kazihata area at 9am on July 15 for the religious formalities.

If the institutions' authorities permit, his body will be kept at the Shaheed Minar of Rajshahi University and later at Rajshahi Government College premises for general public and cultural activists to pay their respects.

He will be buried in the afternoon, said Dr Biswas.

Kishore's parents and a brother were also buried in the same cemetery.

"Christians have a tradition of visiting their relatives' graves on November 1 on every year. On such a day in 2017, Kishore and I visited the cemetery together," recalled Dr Biswas.

"At the end of our prayers, he walked around the cemetery and chose a beautiful spot. He said he wants his burial to be done at that spot," Dr Biswas said, "And we will fulfil his wish."

Returning to his home in Rajshahi on July 20, Kishore passed the last week of his life at Dr Biswas' residence.

"One of his last wishes was that he was a son of Rajshahi, so he should be buried in Rajshahi," he said.