Ekushey Padak-winning eminent music artist, researcher, and writer Mustafa Zaman Abbasi has passed away at the age of 87.
He breathed his last early Saturday morning at a hospital in Banani, Dhaka.
His daughter, Sharmin Abbasi, confirmed the news of his death to the media.
It is reported that Mustafa Zaman Abbasi had been suffering from various age-related complications for some time. He was admitted to the hospital yesterday with respiratory problems.
Mustafa Zaman Abbasi, who was born on December 8, 1936, in Cooch Bihar, West Bengal, belonged to a prominent and respected musical family in the subcontinent.
His father, Abbas Uddin Ahmed, was a legendary folk singer who popularized Bangladeshi folk music around the world. His uncle, Abdul Karim, was also a well-known singer of folk genres like Bhawaiya and Bhatiali. His elder brother, Justice Mustafa Kamal, was a noted legal expert. Mustafa Kamal’s daughter, Nashid Kamal, is also a distinguished artist. His sister, Ferdousi Rahman, is celebrated as a versatile and prominent musician in Bangladesh.
For over fifty years, Mustafa Zaman Abbasi served as the director and collector for the Folk Music Research Group, amassing a collection of thousands of songs. Professionally, he served as the General Manager of an industrial group and was later appointed Director General of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
He gained international recognition by performing Bhatiali, Bhawaiya, Chatka, Bichhedi, and Nazrul Sangeet in 25 countries. He represented Bangladesh and performed at the International Folk Music Conference in Seoul, South Korea.
Under the auspices of UNESCO, he served as the president of the Bangladesh National Committee of Music for 11 years and represented the country multiple times at global conventions of musicians.
As a poet, writer, and researcher, Mustafa Zaman Abbasi authored 21 acclaimed books. Throughout his life, he received numerous awards and honors.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
