She went to Pakistan, sang Rabindra Sangeet on their National Television

A Bangladeshi girl went viral on the internet for singing Rabindra Sangeet on Pakistan's national channel, ARY. Musician Sheikh Dina, the NSU graduate who now resides in the USA, told us the story that is still circulating on social media.

"I met this group of Pakistani musicians Ahsan Bari, Gul Ahmed, and Turab Ali in the UK, who have a band named Sounds of Kolachi. We met while we performed in the UK, for Birmingham Contemporary Music Group," said the artiste. "As we were discussing about Pakistani artistes performing at the Bangladeshi folk festival, they said that they wish to invite some Bangladeshi artistes to perform at their festival as well."

Deep inside, the young singer did not want to miss this opportunity. "I felt it would be a great chance to present my mother tongue in Pakistan."

Dina, is currently pursuing her Master's in Business Administration (MBA) - Business Analytics at Midwestern State University, in Texas. After she received the official invitation from National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) she was still in dilemma as people around her were making negative remarks about her visit to Pakistan. "I was discouraged, and some even told me that I will struggle to get a Visa for many countries, especially the US. These were all stereotypes, as I am sitting in the US and talking to you right now. I believe an artiste's world is limitless."

Rabindranath Tagore was considered a taboo and controversial figure in Pakistan, since the partition of India and the newly formed Pakistan, in 1947. Twenty years later, all works of Tagore were officially banned in all government media (radio, TV, government newspapers etc.) by the orders of Ayub Khan's powerful information and broadcasting minister Khwaja Shahabuddin, and East Pakistan governor Monem Khan, in 1967.

Dina had previously performed on several international platforms representing Bangla folk music to the world like the UK, India, Nepal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she collaborated with the British Council and Art Council England, in their digital platforms which has been arranged by Transforming narratives.

"This initiative is taken by the British Council and with their sponsored amount, I have produced a short film, 'Dhaka Say Karachi' that connects Pakistan and Bangladesh." Besides, she is also the Global Ambassador at the Office of Global Education at MSU Texas.

On March 8, 2020, Dina performed at Pakistan's NAPA (National Academy of Performing Arts) International Folk Festival, Karachi alongside some other international artistes in the festival. They performed in some other countries including Germany and Nepal, among 15 other countries.

"When I entered the stage, I saw that the centre was adorned with red flowers with a circle representing Bangladesh," Dina recalled. "I performed the song 'Amar Haat Bandhibi Pa Bandhibi', and it was a collaboration with a musical group with a theatrical way. The performer who danced with the performance literally had their limbs tied, and I was in tears during my performance."

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Dina's performance was a representation of the brutal rapes and war crimes that took place during our liberation war. She explained that the lyrics of the song were translated and the audience were in pin drop silence, they could clearly understand what the performance actually focused on.

Born and brought up in Chattogram, Dina comes from a conservative family, who did not allow her to explore the world of art initially, which was her only passion. "I managed to come to Dhaka all alone and from there my journey towards my dream began," shared Dina.

She is also the vocalist of the band Ektara, along with other members Amit Rajbongshi, SN Tonwi, Zaim Mustakim, Azmain Mahtab, and Inzammam. "We formed the band while studying at North South University," she adds.

Dina stayed in Pakistan for a week, and apart from participating in the festival, she met many of their people who left behind their families in Bangladesh. "Being a Bangladeshi citizen visiting them as a guest was delightful, and learning about their stories was heartbreaking as well," shared an emotional Dina. "I didn't want to miss the opportunity to perform in my mother language in the land of Pakistan," asserts the singer.

Dina had experienced the unheard stories that were left behind, and buried many years ago. Amongst many memories, Dina shared some which will always remain in her heart. "I went on a radio show FM91, where I met an elderly person who has been working in a low-level position. Upon hearing that a Bangladeshi girl has come to their radio for a show, the man couldn't resist meeting me," said the singer. "Without uttering a word, he hugged me and cried like a child, and shared that he used to work in West Pakistan during the war, and his family lived in the then East Pakistan. He still has family here somewhere in Cumilla and he doesn't know where they are now and requested the singer if she can find them."

"Dhaka Say Karachi— A Tale of Two Lost Souls" was released in 2021, February 22, which was a collaboration between Bangladesh, Pakistan and the UK. The film highlights Dina's travels to Pakistan. Dina's journey and her experience of visiting the country that still shares a bittersweet relationship, has brought her inner South Asian identity to the forefront. It was not easy for Dina either.

As many people are captioning the video of Dina's performance on social media, Dina shared that she is upset about it. "This is absolutely upsetting that people are making fun of such a critical moment a country is going through," spoke Dina, about Pakistan's current financial crisis.

Many even captioned that sinking Pakistan is desperate to build a relationship with Bangladesh. "I am totally against this, and I would request everyone not to spread hatred connecting with such a special moment that we could bring after many decades."

"Since I have travelled there and I have been maintaining a bond with a group of Pakistani musicians who are my friends, I know what perspective they have towards us. They are extremely sorry about the brutality that happened in 1971, and it was interesting to know that they actually had a completely different idea about the history we share."

Even the new generation of Pakistan grew up knowing that 1971 was a conflict with India. "Many with their own effort have identified the true history, and they are guilty of their lack of knowledge. Thus, we should at least show our empathy during their crisis," she concluded.