The legend will sing no more

Lucky Akhand

He was the creator of some timeless tunes that epitomised melancholy, yearnings for love and depth of pain. His inimitable style of composition evoked an array of emotions among millions of hearts over decades.

A legend in every sense of the word, he had many an identity -- a singer, music director, lyricist, instrumentalist and an artiste of war-time radio station Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.

Yesterday was a sad day for the people of Bangladesh, especially the listeners of Bangla music, as they learnt that the man will not be heard playing any more.

He will no longer sing Amay Deko Na, Ferano Jabe Na [Don't call me back, you can't make me return].       

Lucky Akhand, one of the most gifted singer-composers the nation has ever produced, won't indeed return. He breathed his last at Mitford Hospital in the capital  around 6:00pm, his close aide Ershadul Haque Tinku, told The Daily Star. He was 61.

Diagnosed with grade-IV lung cancer back in 2015, he was hospitalised in Bangladesh on September 8, 2015 and later taken to Bangkok for better treatment.

He came back in March last year and since then, he had been taking treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University quite regularly.

As his condition improved, the freedom fighter-artiste was taken to his Armanitola residence from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University two weeks ago.

Happy and Lucky, both now in the great beyond from where there is no coming back. Photo: Collected

He got financial help from the prime minister's fund. Many people came forward and extended their support. There were some fundraising concerts held in various places including Dhaka University.

Lucky was hugely popular in the 1980s, when he was at the peak of his career as a singer, composer, lyricist and music director. His first album got released in 1984.

His songs like Agey Jodi Jantam, Amay Dekona, Jekhanei Simanto Tomar, Kobita Porar Prohor Esechhe and many more are considered milestones in modern Bangla music.

Pitted against lung cancer at an advanced stage, he still exuded an air of undying passion for music. Undaunted by the scale of the battle ahead, he told The Daily Star in September 2015, “I'm working on some new music. Let me come back from Thailand. I'll surprise you all.”

Born in 1955 in Old Dhaka, the music prodigy became a listed composer of HMV Pakistan at the age of 14 and a musician of HMV India at 16.

In 1971, he joined Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, a radio station that throughout the Liberation War remained dedicated to keeping up the morale of the freedom fighters through patriotic songs and programmes.

He later became the director (music) of national radio network Bangladesh Betar.

Two jewels in one family -- Lucky and his brother Happy Akhand -- are undoubtedly among the few musicians who shaped the post-war music scene of Bangladesh. Happy's Abar Elo je Sondhya and Lucky's Ei Neel Monihar are the two precious gems of Bangla music.

Both multi-instrumentalists, the Akhand brothers never kept their talents to themselves. Careers of many famed singers, including Samina Chowdhury, Kumar Bishwajit and Ferdous Wahid, were enriched by their melodious composition.

Today's pop-rock music in Bangladesh, for where it stands now, also owes a great deal to Lucky and Happy.

Bangla music suffered a great loss when Happy met untimely death in 1987. With a heavy heart, his elder brother continued his musical journey -- unwavering in his commitment to good music and never chasing stardom or media attention.

Now Lucky travels to eternity, leaving behind a son and a daughter and millions of fans.

His first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Armanitola Jame Mosque at 10:30am. Around 11:30am, he will be taken to Central Shaheed Minar and given a guard of honour, said Tinku.

After that, the body will be kept there for people to pay last tributes. His second namaz-e-janaza will be held at Dhaka University Central Mosque.

The music legend will be buried at Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in the capital's Mirpur.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock at his death.

In a condolence message, she recalled the contribution of Lucky Akhand in the field of music and the Liberation War.

The prime minister also prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family, reports BSS.