Bhawaiya Angan, an education, collection, preservation and research-based platform on Bhawaiya songs, arranged a soiree at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at SegunBagicha in the capital.
The event named ‘Bhawaiya Evening’ took place on the occasion of the 63rd death anniversary of the legendary Bengali folk song composer and singer Abbasuddin Ahmed.
The Bhawaiya artistes of Mustafiz family enthralled the audience for three hours in the evening on December 28 with the traditional Bhawaiya songs. This is the only family in the country where all the members of a family are artists of traditional Bhawaiya songs.
Secretary of Ministry of Cultural Affairs Md Abul Monsur was present at the event as the chief guest with retired secretary Abu AlamMdShahid Khan in the chair. President of Sammilita Sanskritik Jote Golam Kuddus inaugurated the ‘Bhawaiya Evening’, while Director General of Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) Zafar Wazed and Country Director of Orbis International DrMunir Ahmed were present there as special guests.
Abbasuddin’s nephew and a retired additional secretary Poet Sarkar Mahbub discussed the life and contributions of Abbasuddin Ahmed and his Bhawaiya songs.
Four members of a family-- AKM Mostafizur Rahman, Salma Mostafiz, Sahash Mostafiz and Monifa Mostafiz Mun-- sang one after another, combined, duet and solo Bhawaiya songs. The ceremony was moderated by the daughter-in-law of the family DrSabikunNahar Sumi.
AKM Mostafizur Rahman, who is also the founder and executive director of Bhawaiya Angan, said that all members of his family perform Bhawaiya songs on radio, television, audio cassettes and stage. There is no other such family in Bangladesh and West Bengal of India.
Rangpur is the birth place of Bhawaiya songs. Bhawaiya, a genre of folk music, is popular in the northern part of Bangladesh, especially Rangpur of Bangladesh, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, North Dinajpur districts of West Bengal and Dhubri and Goalpara of Assam in India.
Abbasuddin Ahmed had played a vital role in popularising and promoting the Bhawaiya songs among music lovers and masses across Bangladesh and parts of India.