Pakistani musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan enthralled the audience as BPL Music Fest kicked off the Festival of Youth 2025 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.

The versatile singer kept close to a 10,000-strong crowd at the home of Bangladesh Cricket enchanted with his soulful renditions of songs ranging from Qawwali and Sufi to popular Bollywood numbers. His virtuoso performance, which featured among others, Allahu Allahu, Tere Bina, Tere Rashqe Qamar, Afreen Afreen, Tere Mast Mast Do Nain, was complemented by his talented ensemble which included his son, Shazmaan Khan. 

BPL franchise representatives waving their flags. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's performance following that of popular Bangladeshi band Miles was also a respite from the annoyance caused by a poor sound system in place during the seven-hour-long show -- something that has almost become a norm with the concerts in Dhaka these days.

There were elaborate performances and cameos fom other local artistes such as Avoid Rafa, Hannan, Muza, Sanjoy and  Xefer who mixed their hit singles with traditional songs. 

The occasion was graced by Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and BCB president Faruque Ahmed who commemorated the contribution of the martyrs and the ones injured in the July Uprising and highlighted the music fest as part of the broader festival for the young generation.

There will be two more such concerts taking place in Chattogram and Sylhet centring the BPL, which will begin on December 30.

The breaks in performances from the musicians made way for engaging audiovisuals which highlighted Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus's Three Zero theory and the graffiti of the July Uprising, while the representatives of the seven BPL franchises also mafe their presence felt at the event.

But it was Miles, led by lead vocalist Hamin Ahmed, that serving up the appetite of the audience with timeless classics including Neela, Chand Tara Shurjo, Piyashi Mon, Dhiki Dhiki Agun Jawle, Phiriye Dao before the Pakistani maestro's virtuoso performance brought an end to proceedings.