Ekushey Padak-winning lyricist, composer, and music director Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul passed away at a Dhaka hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. He was 63.
Bulbul, who was also a freedom fighter, was rushed to the Ayesha Memorial Hospital in Mohakhali after suffering a heart attack at his Aftabnagar home around 4am, according to family sources.
The hospital’s Information Officer Samia Akhter told reporters that Bulbul was brought in around 5:58am and was immediately checked by the doctors at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“However, the doctors concluded that Bulbul had died at his home or on his way to the hospital,” she added.
His body will be kept at the morgue at BIRDEM Hospital overnight, said family members.
He had been suffering from cardiac issues for a long time. In June last year, Bulbul had undergone treatment for eight blockages in his heart at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had taken care of the cost of the artist's medical treatment at the time.
Bulbul’s remains will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar of the Dhaka University (DU) around 11am on Wednesday and be kept till 12:30pm there for his fans and people from all walks of life to pay their last respects to the legend.
His namaz-e-janaza will be held at the DU Central Mosque after Zuhr prayers where he will be given a guard of honour, said Sammilita Sangskritik Jote President Golam Kuddus.
Bulbul’s son Samir Ahmed told reporters that his father will be laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur after Asr prayers on Wednesday.
President Md Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Speaker of the parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury led the others in mourning the celebrated lyricist.
Recalling Bulbul’s outstanding contribution during the 1971 Liberation War and to the country’s cultural arena, they said his death was an irreparable loss and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Freedom fighter Bulbul had also testified as a prosecution witness in the war crimes case against former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam in October 2012.
However, following his testimony, Bulbul’s younger brother Miraz Ahmed was found dead near Khilkhet-Kuril Flyover in March 2013. Police later said Miraz was strangled to death.
Also Read- The kaleidoscopic journey of Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul
From battlefield to studio
The musician, who composed several famous patriotic songs and created background scores for hundreds of movies apart from releasing music album independently, was born in Dhaka on January 1, 1956.
Then a student of West End High School in Azimpur, he joined Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971 at the age of 15 along with some friends after witnessing genocide of unarmed Bangalis at the hands of the Pakistan military on March 25, 1971.
Bulbul had actively taken part in the war in Dhaka and surrounding areas. He also received training in India.
In October, Bulbul and three others were captured by the occupation forces at the Tontor Check Post, located between Comilla and Brahmanbaria, and kept in a jail in Brahmanbaria, where they suffered inhumane torture along with other freedom fighters.
Later, the four managed to escape from the house of a local collaborator, two days after they were moved there and tortured.
Although Bulbul had emerged in the music industry as a teenage guitarist back in the 1960s, he entered Dhallywood seven years after the war — by working as the music director in the film “Megh Bijli Badal” in 1978.
In the '70s, he had also started composing music for patriotic songs for BTV.
Bulbul’s creations for 1984 “Noyoner Alo” — “Amar Saradeho Kheyogo Mati,” “Amar Babar Mukhe Prothom Jedin,” “Amar Buker Moddhekhane,” “Ami Tomar Duti Chokher Duti Tara Hoye” — had become timeless hits.
He was twice awarded the National Film Award for Best Music Director — first in 2001 for his work in “Premer Tajmohol,” and a second time in 2005 for “Hazar Bochor Dhore.”
In 2010, he was awarded the prestigious Ekushey Padak by the government for his outstanding contribution to the country’s music culture.
Besides his works in the films, Bulbul composed lyrics and music for albums released by popular singers including Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila, Syed Abdul Hadi, Andrew Kishore, Samina Chowdhury, Kanak Chapa and many more.
The artist will be fondly remembered for the timeless tunes he gave to songs like “Shob Kota Janala Khule Dao Na,” “O Majhi Nao Chaira De,” “Shei Railiner Dhare,” and “Sundor Suborno Tarunno Labonyo.”
He had also won many other prestigious awards, including the President Award and the Shikha Anirban Award — which is the highest honour conferred by the Armed Forces. He also won the Bachsas Award 11 times..