Malay Kumar Ganguly, a celebrated voice warrior of the 1971 Liberation War and a distinguished folk singer, passed away on Monday night. He was 80.
He passed away at 9:20pm while undergoing treatment at the National Heart Foundation in Dhaka.
The news of his death was confirmed by tabla player Pallab Sannal. Ganguly’s body was kept at the morgue of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Dhaka. His only daughter, who resides in Australia, will decide on the funeral arrangements upon her return.
Born in 1946 in Mozaffarpur village of Kendua, Netrokona, Ganguly played a unique role in Bangladesh’s Liberation War, using his voice as a weapon. During the war, he left home for Kolkata to join the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. From Baliganj Circular Road, he regularly wrote songs, composed tunes, and inspired freedom fighters with his singing.
Ganguly won widespread acclaim for his performance of Guru Upay Bolo Na in the film Putrobodhu. He was also the composer and original singer of the iconic song Jodi Raat Pohale Shona Jeto, Bangabandhu More Nai, written by Hasan Matiur Rahman, which was later popularized by Sabina Yasmin.