“Sangeet-er Kritijon”: Reminiscing music icons

Cover of the book

“Sangeet-er Kritijon”, a new book highlighting lives and works of departed music icons of Bangladesh, was published at Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of National Museum on May 10. Jointly edited by Ferdaus Hossain Bhuiyan and Shafat Khaiyyam, the book has been published by Bangladesh Sangeet Parishad.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister, Abul Kalam Azad unveiled the book as the chief guest. Poet Asad Chowdhury, singer Syed Abdul Hadi and several other cultural personalities were present as special guests.
The book features 18 eminent composers, musicians and singers -- Ustad Ayet Ali Khan, Samar Das, Abdul Latif, Sheikh Lutfor Rahman, Shaheed Altaf Mahmud, Subal Das, Debu Bhattacharya, Sukhendra Chakraborti, Satya Saha, Masud Karim, Mahmudunnabi, Dr. Abu Hyder Sajedur Rahman, AHM Rafik, Nilufar Yasmin, Probal Chowdhury, SM Hedayet, Nazrul Islam Babu and Nuruzzaman Sheikh.
The event was divided into two segments -- discussion followed by unveiling of the book, and a musical programme.
The discussion was presided over by Rehana Ashikur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Sangeet Parishad. Vice president Sheikh Sadi Khan, secretary general Ferdaus Hossain Bhuiyan and joint secretary general Shafat Khaiyyam and Syed Abdul Hadi emphasised on music piracy, implementing intellectual property rights act including royalty, increasing remuneration of the artistes of Bangladesh Betar and BTV and more in their speeches. Ferdaus Hossain Bhuiyan also mentioned the role of music in the mass movements of Bangladesh.
The minister responded to their demands and assured the artistes of putting forth the matters in the next fiscal budget.
In his poetic speech, Asad Chowdhury meticulously adressed the nation's debt to the literary and cultural world. “This book should have been published by Bangla Academy or Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy,” he added.
Later, noted singers -- Syed Abdul Hadi, Subir Nandi, Shaheen Samad, Khurshid Alam, Fahmida Nabi, Fatema Tuj-Zohra, Shammi Akhtar, Rebeka Sultana, Shelu Barua and others performed songs of yesteryears. In her resolute voice, Shahin Samad performed the Nazrul Sangeet “Jai go choley jai, na dekha lokey janitey chiro ajanay” in honour of the late Nilufar Yasmin.