Sangeeta founder Salim Khan, who produced albums for almost every major singer in the 1980s and 90s, died with Covid-19 yesterday at Impulse Hospital in the capital.

He was 55.

His record label released albums by Bari Siddiqui, Subir Nandi, Tapan Chowdhury, James, Ayub Bachchu, Momtaz, Baby Nazneen, Asif Akbar, Hasan, Aankhi Alamgir and many other singers.

Salim's father Abdus Samad founded Samad Electronics, which made copies of English and Hindi songs, which was the trend in Patuatuli market. Around 1985, Salim took its helm and established Sangeeta.

Sangeeta was regarded as one of the pillars of the growing music industry of the era, and eventually, the words "Published by Salim Khan" became an emblem of prestige for a record.

Even though Sangeeta's main office was in Patuatuli, a new office was opened in Paltan for the musicians' convenience.

"Salim Khan was a humble person," singer Kumar Bishwajit said. "I have been featured on countless mixtapes by Sangeeta. My solo album Shreshtho Gaan from the 90s is especially memorable."

The singer added that he became quite close to Salim when working with the MIB, an association of music producers.

Manam Ahmed of Miles wished peace for the departed soul. "Our albums were published by Sangeeta. We trusted it. Even though Prottasha and Protisruti were first released by another label, both albums were later re-released by Sangeeta. I have many great memories with Salim. His death is a great loss. Wherever he is now, I wish him well."

Lyricist Delwar Arzuda Sharf worked for Sangeeta from 2000-2011. "I started with Baby Naznin's Duchokhe Ghum Ashena. Then I wrote Dolly Sayantani's Ontore Bahire Tumi, mixtape Prem Janena Bondhu Amar and Fazlur Rahman Babu's Indubala. I am indebted to Sangeeta and Salim bhai for the opportunity," he told The Daily Star.

Songwriter and album cover designer Niaz Ahmed Angshu said, "I first met Salim Khan while working on LRB's Shopno. He was super excited about the new album and its promotion. He never said no to anything Bachchu Bhai suggested."

The growth of Bangladeshi music in the 80s and 90s owes a lot to Salim.