Seven conferred with Bashir Ahmed Sammanana

‘Bashir Ahmed Sammanana’ named after Ekushey Padak-recipient and National Film Award-winning late veteran playback singer Bashir Ahmed was conferred for the fourth time on seven noted personalities for their significant contribution to the respective fields on Friday.

This year, the award recipients were singer Syed Abdul Hadi, music director Devendranath Chatterjee, lyricist Mohammad Rafiquzzaman, violinist Sunil Chandra Das, journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, journalist Shykh Seraj and expatriate Batul Rahman.

State minister for disaster management and relief Md Enamur Rahman handed over the award to the awardees as chief guest while Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation Md Abdur Rahim Khan was present as a special guest at the programme.

Initiated by Humaira Bashir and Raja Bashir—the two eligible heirs of Bashir Ahmed, the award ceremony was held at the National Art Gallery Auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Khurshid Alam said, “It is very praiseworthy that the two children of the musician are trying to preserve and spread the work of their father. The new generation singers are unlucky because they can rarely work with senior musicians. Bashir Ahmed used to teach us music. He will live through his songs.”

Sargam Sound Station in association with Bangladesh Shilpakala academy organised a programme featuring the conferring of Bashir Ahmed Sammanana 2022, a discussion and music show to commemorate the life and work of the late singer Bashir Ahmed.

After the award ceremony, singers entertained the audience by rendering songs of Bashir Ahmed, including ‘Ei Baishakhe Lekha’, ‘Abhiman Kori Abhinay Kori Na’, ‘Pakhi Tui Bol Na’, ‘Shono Katha Shono’, ‘Amake Porate Jadi Eto Lage Bhalo’, ‘Oi Akash Pare’, ‘Kuch Apni Kahiye’ and his duet songs ‘Premer Chotto Ekti Ghar’ and ‘Pahar Nodi Jharnadhara’.

Singers, namely Dithi Anwar, Md Ibrahim Khalil, Noshin Tabassum Smaran, Momin Biswas, Samarjit Roy, Priyanka Gope, Raja Bashir, and Humaira Bashir performed at the programme.

Besides, Syeda Nazneen Akhtar recited a self-penned poem in memory of Bashir Ahmed.

Bashir Ahmed was a Bangladeshi playback singer who started his career in the Pakistan film industry. Born in Kolkata, he migrated to Dhaka, after the Partition period in 1960 and started his singing career. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2005 by the Government of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for his performance in the film ‘Kokhono Megh Kokhono Bristi’.