Dhaka University conferred the Feroza Begum Memorial Gold Medal on eminent Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila at the university's Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on Tuesday.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman, who has been organising the award since 2016, handed over the award named after the legendary Nazrul Sangeet singer Feroza Begum to Runa Laila, at the third edition of the program.
This year Runa Laila received the award along with the highest CGPA holder in the 2017 BSS examination of the university's Music Department, Urmi Ghosh.
The university’s treasurer Prof Kamal Uddin chaired the event.
The function was organized by Dhaka University’s “Feroza Begum Memorial Gold Medal Trust Fund,” to mark what would have been the 92nd birthday of the late singer.
Professor Abu Md Delwar Hossain, dean of the Faculty of Arts; the sponsor of the trust fund, as well as Chairperson of ACI Foundation M Anis Ud Dowla; Tumpa Samadder, chairperson of the Music Department, and family members of Feroza Begum; among others, were present at the event.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Akhtaruzzaman lauded the late artist and said she greatly contributed to spreading knowledge of Nazrul Sangeet abroad.
He also said Runa Laila represents Bangla music in the whole world.
Runa Laila said at the event: “This award is a blessing for me. This is different from all the awards I have, as it has the legendary Feroza Begum’s name attached with it. I am very happy to have received this award. Feroza Begum’s name will be remembered in association with Bangla culture for as long as songs exist.”
Feroza Begum was born in Gopalganj District on July 28, 1926, and the University of Dhaka has been remembering her through this program since 2016.
Internationally acclaimed singers Sabina Yasmin and Rezwana Choudhury Bannya were awarded the Feroza Begum Memorial Gold Medal in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
