Tribute to legendary folk singer Fakir Alamgir
Entertainment Desk :
Yesterday marked the fourth death anniversary of Fakir Alamgir, the legendary Bangladeshi folk and mass music singer whose voice fueled movements and inspired generations.
To commemorate his life and contributions, cultural groups, including Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi
and Bangladesh Ganasangeet Samonnoy Parishad, arranged for a series of events.
The day’s observance began at 10:00am with Quran recitation and prayers at his grave in Khilgaon Taltola Cemetery followed by floral tributes from various organisations.
In the afternoon, foods were distributed among the underprivileged at his Khilgaon residence, and a special prayer session was also held later at the Matir Mosque.
Simultaneously, his birthplace in Kalamridha village, Bhanga, Faridpur, hosted its own milad and doa mahfil, honouring the memory of one of Bangladesh’s most iconic musical voices.
Born on February 21, 1950, in Faridpur, Fakir Alamgir began his academic journey at Kalamridha High School, later graduating from Jagannath University and completing his master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism from Dhaka University. But his true calling was music.
He became involved in leftist student politics in the mid-1960s, which led him to groups like Kranti Shilpi Gosthi and Gonoshilpi Gosthi, merging music with activism. During the 1969 mass uprising, his protest songs became anthems of resistance.
At just 21, he joined the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation War and contributed as part of the refugee artistes’ group in Kolkata. Post-independence, he fused Western musical elements with Bengali folk, helping pioneer the pop-folk genre in Bangladesh.
In recognition of his immense contribution to music, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 1999. Among his timeless hits, the song ‘O Sokhina’ remains an enduring favourite, first performed on BTV’s Anandamela in 1982. Other notable tracks include ‘Mon Tui Dekhli Na Re’, ‘Kalo Kalo Manusher Deshe’, ‘Mayer Ekdhar Dudher Dam’, ‘Banamali Tumi’, and ‘Santahar Junction-e Dekha’ Fakir Alamgir was also the founder of Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi, a former president of Ganasangeet Shilpi Parishad, and a prolific writer, authoring several books, including ‘Muktijuddher Smriti O Bijoyer Gaan’, ‘Gonosangeeter Otit O Bortoman’, and ‘Amar Kotha’.
He passed away on July 23, 2021, at the age of 71, due to complications from Covid-19.