Legendary folk musician and freedom fighter Fakir Alamgir passes away

Folk music legend and freedom fighter Fakir Alamgir passed away in Dhaka on Friday night.

He was suffering from a Coronavirus infection and suffered a heart attack in the evening. He was 71.

Singer, musician and songwriter, Fakir Alamgir was a leading exponent of Gono Sangeet or songs of the masses. He was known as a leading voice for the weaker sections of society.

President M. Hamid in his condolence message said that Fakir Alamgir’s music played an important role in the revival of patriotism and the development of the liberation war consciousness among the younger generation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that he will be remembered for his great role in popularising the Gono Sangeet among people.

Fakir Alamgir studied Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University. He was a member of the cultural groups Kranti Shilpi Gosthi and Gono Shilpi Gosthi during the mass upsurge of 1969 against the Pakistani government. He also worked with Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, the radio station which played a significant role during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971.

Starting his musical journey in 1966, Fakir Alamgir was counted among the most influential artists of modern Bangladeshi music combining folk music with western sounds. He was also a writer having published several books in Bangla.

He was awarded the top literary award of Bangladesh Ekushey Padak in 1999 for his contribution to music.