Tributes pour in for Imtiaz Bulbul

Tributes and condolences have been pouring in from all quarters for noted lyricist, composer and music director Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul.

His body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka around 11:00am where thousands of people including, members of different social and cultural groups paid homage to him.

On the Shaheed Minar premises, Bulbul was given a guard of honour, who died of cardiac arrest in Dhaka in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 63.

A delegation on behalf of President M Abdul Hamid placed a wreath on his coffin. Former cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor, state minister for cultural affairs KM Khalid Babu, eminent singers Sabina Yasmin, Fahmida Nabi, among others, paid rich tributes to Imtiaz Bulbul.

His body will be kept at the Shaheed Minar till 12:30pm from where it will be taken to Dhaka University mosque where his first namaj-e-janaza will be held after Zohr prayers.

Bulbul will be laid to eternal rest at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard after Asr prayers.

A freedom fighter, Imtiaz Bulbul joined the Liberation War in 1971 when he was only 15 years old.

Bulbul received various awards for his contribution to music industry, most remarkably the Ekushey Padak, the President's Award, the Shikha Anirban Award (the highest honour conferred by the Bangladesh Armed Forces) and the Bachsas Award (11 times).

He won the National Film Award for music direction in critically acclaimed films Premer Tajmahal and Hajar Bochhor Dhorey.

Starting his career as a music director in the film Megh Bijli Badol, he composed numerous songs for films.

His famous works include Shob Kota Janala Khuley Dao Na, O Majhi Nao Chhaira Dey, Shei Rail Liner Dharey, Sundar Suborno Tarunya Labonya, Amar Sara Deho Kheo Go Mati and Amar Babar Mukhey Prothom Jedin.