A number of lyricists, composers and vocalists of Bangladesh have come under the banner of“Music Alliance Bangladesh” for the first time to protect the rights of the artistes and to uphold the dignity of the music community of the country.
The organization made its official surfacing at a virtual press briefing on Saturday, says a statement.
Kumar Bishwajit, general secretary of Singers Association of Bangladesh, announced the organization’s first executive committee at the briefing
Independence Award-winning Rabindra Sangeet artiste Rezwana Choudhury Bannya was made the president, while lyricist Shahid Mahmud Jangi, singer and composer Naquib Khan and Kumar Bishwajit were announced as its general secretaries.
The other committee members are - Finance and Office Secretary lyricist Asif Iqbal; Information Technology and International Affairs Secretary singer Hasan Abidur Reja Jewel; Cultural Secretary singer and composer Bappa Mazumder; Publicity and Publication Secretary lyricist Zulfiqer Russell.
Besides, four executive members are - Manam Ahmed, Kabir Bakul, Shawkat Ali Emon and Joy Shahriar.
The virtual press conference was conducted by the Editor of the online news website Bangla Tribune and Organizing Secretary of Geetikobi Shongho Zulfiqer Russell.
Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, chief convener of Singers Association of Bangladesh delivered the welcome speech.
“This is an extremely precious moment for all of us. A few days ago the Singers’ Association of Bangladesh was formed. We have two more organizations. We have done a lot of work together. I have learnt from experience that now we have no choice but to work together. There is no alternative to standing by each other in a crisis moment,” said Bannya.
“The reason for this press conference today is to officially highlight the issues of working as one,” she added.
“We are forming this platform with the conviction of fighting together for the development of music as a whole, and to protect the moral and financial rights of the musicians,” said the president of Music Composers’ Association of Bangladesh Naquib Khan.
“It is a non-political and non-profit organization. We will try to ensure effective steps to work with confidence in all aspects of music,” he added.
President of Geetikobi Shongho Shahid Mahmud Jangi, said: “We have three different organizations, created almost at the same time last year. We have noticed that there were some identical demands, along with their respective demands. Then we thought, we have to work as one to reach the destination. So we have planned to create a federal organization, keeping those organizations active. It was later named Sangeet Oikya Bangladesh [Music Alliance Bangladesh],”
“Four representatives each from those three organizations were considered to make the executive committee of this organization.” He added.
Earlier, Geetikobi Shongho, an association of lyricists, was formed in July last year. Following this, the singers’ association and the Music Composers’ Association of Bangladesh were formed by Rezwana Choudhury Bannya and Naquib Khan respectively.
Last year, these organizations have done some important work jointly, side by side with their respective organizational works with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Copyright Board, according to the statement.
