Saturday, April 20, 2024
Friday (June 5) was the ninth death anniversary of iconic Bangladeshi rock star Azam Khan, a legend who is considered a pioneer and one of the greatest music artists in Bangladesh.
His courageous attempt to bring western rock into Bengali music inspired countless youth, fellow music artists and millions of fans and followers who still remember him as the ‘Pop Samrat’ (King of Pop) with utmost love and respect.
Born as Mahbubul Haque Khan on February 28, 1950, Azam Khan earned massive respect from the industry as a versatile singer, songwriter, record producer, and lead singer for the rock band ‘Uchcharon’ in independent Bangladesh.
Before conquering the music scene as the ‘poster boy’ of the Bangladeshi rock scene, Azam Khan also fought for the country as a freedom fighter. He took part in the Liberation War and fought in sector-2 in Dhaka.
On his ninth death anniversary, many of his fellow music artists and fans took to social media to convey their feelings about the legend.
Naquib Khan, another popular singer and frontman of Bangladeshi band Renaissance, wrote on Facebook: “9 years ago, today on 5th June 2011, We lost great singer, pioneer of Pop music in Bangladesh, freedom fighter, wonderful human being Pop Guru Azam Khan, who popularised and driven Band music from so-called urban Elite class to common people of all over Bangladesh. Really miss our dearest Azam Bhai... May Allah grant him Jannah... R.I.P. Ameen [sic]”.
Founder of another popular Bangladeshi rock band ‘Ark’, singer-songwriter-composer Ashiquzzaman Tulu wrote on Facebook: “Azam Bhai, you have always hold love for everyone in your heart and your songs, your soul was very pure, you were a truly humble man who never adopted the celebrity lifestyle like other celebrities - rather always remained simple like other human beings and thus, you have always been ‘unbeaten’, which you will remain forever. Love you, Azam bhai [sic].”
Azam Khan has also sung for many films and acted in ‘Hiramon’ (1986) and ‘Godfather’ (2003). His legendary solo tracks including ‘Rail Line er Oi Bosti te’, ‘Papri Keno Bojhe Na’, ‘Obhimani’, ‘Ashi Ashi Bole Tumi’, ‘Highcourt Er Majare’, ‘Ami Jare Chai re’, ‘Alal O Dulal’, ‘Ore Saleka Ore Maleka’, ‘Jibone Kichu Pabona re’ and many other tracks have cemented his legacy in Bangladeshi music industry.
Apart from being a freedom fighter and rock icon, he also played professional cricket as a passionate cricketer in the second division league of Dhaka in 1998, at the age of 48.
For his immense contribution to Bengali music, Azam Khan was posthumously awarded the second highest civilian honour award "Ekushey Padak" in 2019.
Azam Khan died on June 5, 2011 at the Combined Military Hospital (Dhaka) at the age of 61, after a long battle with oral cancer. Till date, he is remembered with utmost respect among his fans, peers, followers and mostly the common people - whom he always portrayed and voiced in his super hit tracks.
