Fifteen years of Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Shangstha

It was May 27, 1988, when many of the eminent artistes of Tagore songs like Kalim Sharafi, Sanjida Khatun, Shudhin Das, Kaderi Kibria, Sadi Mohammad, Sajid Akbar, Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya, Papia Sarwar and others formed an association named 'Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Shangstha'. According to the present Secretary General of the association, Tapan Mahmud, 'There was an association of the researchers and people who work with the creation of Tagore, named Rabindra Sangeet Sammelon Parishad. We the singers felt that there is no organisation of our own. So, we formed this association for our welfare.'

When this reporter was talking to him, some were seen preparing the stage for the upcoming show. Tapan Mahmud said, 'The people here working are singers and they will perform as well.'

The programme began with the national anthem followed by the inspiring song of our Liberation War Aguner parashmoni chhoao praney. All the artistes present at the occasion sang in chorus. After these two songs the member artistes reminisced the past days of the organisation. The Chairman of the association, Kalim Sharafi said, 'We are proud of celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the association. If we get the patronage of the audience, we can go further ahead.' Amena Ahmed, Nahar Jamil, Professor Nowshaba Khatun and Manir Manju also spoke at the occasion.

The Chairman, Secretary General and other artistes lighted fifteen Pradeeps (earthen-lamps) to mark the fifteenth year of the organisation. This was followed by the cultural programme. Kalim Sharafi sung Aj jharer raatey tomar abhishar which was greatly applauded by the audience, after which they encored for more. Mita Haque sang Swapone dohey chhino ki mohey, Iffat Ara Dewan, Tumi robey nirobey hridoye momo, Salma Akbar, Aji e annanda shondhya and Nahar Jamil sang Madhur rupe biraj hey. Shama Ali, AKM Mijanur Rahman, Amina Ahmed, Mahadev Ghose, Shatya Chakrobarty, Khandokar Abul Kalam, Golam Haidar, Bula Mahmud, Hashi Biswash, Pijush Barua, Shama Rahman and other artistes performed Tagore songs while Mohammad Shahjahan, Kajol Mukharjee, Najmul, Daulatur Rahman and Almas Ali accompanied them in the Tabla and violin respectively.