Middlemen are providing the companies with Boyati's art, but not giving due credit to his family, violating legal procedure.
Boyati's family submitted a letter to the state minister of the Post and Telecommunication Division Tarana Halim on November 8 2015, but no progress has yet been made.
“Due to financial inability and support from the authorities responsible, we can't go through legal procedures against these private telecommunication companies,” Boyati's elder son Mohiuddin said.
Also Read- A tribute to the legendary Abdur Rahman Boyati
Alam, Boyati's second son said noted Lalon singer Farida Parveen and a Bangla Daily informed him that mobile operator companies owed his father Tk16 crore for using his songs.
The impoverished family submitted an application to the prime minister seeking financial and housing support and received partial help from the PM fund.
They received Tk4.5 lakh while Boyati's widow got a monthly allowance of Tk10,000 till she died.
The 13-member family lives in a four-room flat in Gandaria, Old Dhaka and are unable to pay for their children's education, said Azim, Boyati's youngest son.
The PM Office issued a letter to the Ministry of Cutural affairs to grant a home to the family on May 18, 2015. However, Boyati's family are yet to receive any housing.
Earlier, a team of artists including folksingers met with Tarana Halim seeking her intervention on the issue. She assured them that proper action would be taken.
The Dhaka Tribune tried to contact the telecommunication companies and the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) but the respective authorities declined to make any comments in this regard.
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The Ekushey Padak winner folk singer died due to neurological and urological complications at the Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital in Dhaka in 2013.
Boyati dreamt of a Baul Academy to be set up to facilitate research on folk music in Bangladesh.
The Akota Baul Shilpi Gosthi, established by Boyati aims to unite like-minded artists.
They will host a cultural event at Shilpokola Academy on occasion of Boyati's birthday.
Also Read- Folk singer Abdur Rahman Boyati dies
Boyati was the only performer from Bangladesh who was invited to a cultural show at a dinner party of George Bush Sr. at the White House in 1990. The celebrated folk singer won six national awards including the Presidency and Ekushey Padak.
In 1973 he discussed the relevance of folk songs with his peers during a visit with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He performed in 36 countries and released 500 solo and 200 mixed albums.
Boyati's voice and lyrics motivated freedom fighters during the liberation war of 1971.
Alam and his family demanded that an academy and a trust be set up to nurture Baul music, an integral part of our heritage.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
