The Army Stadium in the capital came alive on Saturday with “Echoes of Revolution,” a charity concert held in honour of the martyrs and injured victims of the July uprising.
The event began with a captivating Qawwali session at 4pm, performed by the Silsila Qawwali group.
Following this, rappers Hannan and Shezan took to the stage, energizing the audience with their iconic songs “Awaz Uda” and “Kotha Ko,” which had played a pivotal role during the July-August mass uprising.
In the early part of the concert, local bands Aftermath, Chirkutt, and Artcell enthralled the crowd with their musical performances. However, before the local bands took the stage at 8:10pm, Sarjis Alam, one of the representatives of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, appeared on stage. He was joined by injured July uprising activists Atikur Rahman and Khokon Chandra Barman, along with the mother of martyr Ahnaf and the sister of martyr Saikat.
Sarjis Alam stirred the stadium with slogans from the student movement, which originated from the quota reform protests.
Before the headline performance by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the stage welcomed distinguished guests, including Pakistan’s high commissioner, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, and Youth and Sports Ministry Advisor Asif Mahmud.
Addressing the audience, Asif Mahmud announced that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will also perform at the BPL T20 Music Fest at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Stadium on Monday.
At 9:56pm, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan took the stage, receiving an ecstatic welcome from the crowd.
Beginning with the soulful “Tu Na Jaane Aas Paas Hai Khuda,” he mesmerized the audience with his celebrated tracks, including “Sanu Ek Pal,” “Khair Mangda,” “O Re Piya,” and “Mere Rashke Qamar.”
The concert concluded at 11:30pm with a powerful rendition of “Dama Dam Mast Qalandar.”
Among the thousands in attendance, Dhaka University student Mitu Akhter shared her motivation for being there, saying: “I came with my friends to support the injured and bereaved families of the July uprising.”
Another student, Mushfiq, emphasized the significance of the event, saying: “There’s no alternative to such events to keep the spirit of July revolution alive.”
The event was hosted by Dipti Chowdhury and Julhas Zubair, offering a night of music and solidarity while honouring the sacrifices of the past.
