Labu Miah: A master flute maker

It is hard to say when the flute was invented. This musical instrument has been in use for more than 43,000 years in the history of mankind. The most ancient specimens were different in shapes and sizes and were made of bones.

In the Indian sub-continent, flute is known as bansuri or venu, and banshi in Bengali, which is mainly made of bamboo.

Bamboo flute has always been an important musical instrument in the Indian classical music. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna is considered a master flautist. Since time immemorial, bamboo flute or basher banshi has been one of the finest and most melodious instruments to every common music lovers in this sub-continent.  

Making bamboo flutes is a passion and living for Labu Miah. Inspired by renowned flautist Pundit Panna Lal Ghosh, Labu Miah has been making bamboo flutes with the finest sound quality and perfect tune, which can be compared to any flute instrument of international standard in the world.

Labu Miah has spent 20 years of his life at the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University, and has trained and provided flutes to the students and teachers.

During his young days, Labu went to different parts of South Asia to learn more about flute, but unfortunately he did not have much support, and later he started making flutes on his own.

Labu's flutes have reached many famous flautists in Bangladesh and abroad, like Germany, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and even to the famous Indian flautist Pundit Hari Prasad Chaurasia.  

Labu Miah was awarded as the best flute maker for his craftsmanship in 1996 by Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), and is considered as an iconic flute maker of Bangladesh among our local flautists and flute lovers.