Folk singer Bari Siddiqui no more

Eminent folk singer and flautist Bari Siddiqui passed away at Square Hospital in Dhaka early yesterday.

The 63-year old singer breathed his last at around 2:00am. Siddiqui had been kept on life support there since the night of November 17 after suffering a heart attack.

He had also long been suffering from diabetes and complications in both kidneys. According to family sources, he had been undergoing dialysis treatment since last year.

The singer of popular songs like “Shua Chan Pakhi” and “Amar Gaye Joto Dukkho Shoy” left behind his wife, two sons, a daughter, and a host of relatives, friends, well-wishers and followers to mourn his death.

Siddiqui, born to a musical family in Netrokona on November 15, 1954, trained in music from a young age under Ustad Gopal Dutt, Ustad Aminur Rahman, Babir Khan and Pannalal Ghosh during the formative years of his life.

 He also began playing the bansuri (bamboo flute) and trained under noted classical flautist VG Karnad in India.

Siddiqui came to mainstream attention in 2000 with the release of Humayun Ahmed's film “Shrabon Megher Din”.  However, his music career began much earlier, back in the 70s.

He continued to sing in films and tele-films as well after that, along with performing at concerts and on TV. He further released several music albums.

He has worked extensively with lyricist Shahidullah Farayezi and has performed and conducted workshops in France, Switzerland, Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran and Singapore.

PM MOURNS DEATH OF FOLKSINGER BARI SIDDIQUI

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed deep shock at the death of eminent folksinger, lyricist and flautist Bari Siddiqui.

In a condolence message, the prime minister recalled his outstanding contributions to enrich the country's folk songs, reports BSS.

"The people of the country have lost a popular folk singer... as long as folk songs exist in the country, he will remain alive," she said.

Hasina also prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.