On the occasion of the inauguration of South Asian Music Institute, a festival titled South Asian Music Festival 2014 was organised by the institute on February 28 at the central auditorium of the National Museum. The institute is a response to repeatetive requests put forward by the artists and participants who attended the 1st South Asian Mass Musician Conference 2013 in Dhaka. The institute is a platform for singers and musicians to nurture the rich cultural heritage of the country.
The theme of this year’s event was the cultural diversity of Nepal. The organisers hope to make this festival official by arranging it every year. Initiative to enrich South Asian musical heritage was very appreciated but their jumbled manner was unable to met audience expectations.
The festival started with the rendition of the national anthem, followed by a special inaugural song titled Hridoy Nishan Urchhe Oi and Rokto Lal which is a patriotic song by the singers of People’s Song Federation. A welcome dance with the song Protidin Tomay Dekhi Surjer Age was presented by Swapnil Shilpagosthi which was applauded by the audience. The recitation highlighted Bangladesh as well as other South Asian countries. Another folk dance number was showcased by the organisation, where they created awareness about child marriage through their act on Maleka Banur Deshere.
Prominent folk singer Fakir Alamgir was specially honoured at the festival for his contribution to Bangladeshi music. Then the inauguration programme moved forward to their discussion round. Hrishiz Silpagosthi performed two songs of Fakir Alamgir, Bhoy Ki Morone and Manusher Mone Boshobas Kore. Mushtari Parveen Tina performed four evergreen songs including one popular kawali titled Dama Dam Mast Kalandar, the celebrated patriotic song O amar Desher Mati, love songs Chanchal Hawa Re and Priyo Jai Jai Bolo Na.
Students from Nepal sang their national anthem and a Nepali song. Joyonti Chakma performed a Chakma love song while Chotothi Marma performed their popular song of Baisabi festival (a four-day New Year greeting festival of the ethnic communities). Monoj Bahadur performed a Gurkha song while Hasina performed a patriotic song in Garo language and also performed a folk song titled O Mor Bania Bondhure. Then, Suchitra Bhoumik started her performance with a poetry recitation of Rabindranath Tagore. She presented a song in Tripura language and two Bangla songs, Jago Shathi Jago and Bin Bazare. Last performance was by Taposhi Roy Chowdhury who rendered folk songs of West-Bengal.
Dr Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister was the chief guest of the occasion. The Ambassador of the Embassy of Nepal in Bangladeshs H E Mr Hary Kumar Shrestha attended the programme as special guest. Litterature-lyricist poet Azizur Rahman Aziz, Vice-president of Sommiliti Sangskritik Jot Golam Kuddus and Ex-member of the parliament advocate Fazilatunnesa Bappi was the guest of honour. The festival was conducted by Saidus Saklaen and convener of the festival was Sharif Ashrafuzzaman.