Eminent Lalon singer Farida Parveen passes away

Eminent Lalon Singer Farida Parveen is no more

Dhaka, Sep 14 – Ekushey Padak-winning eminent Lalon singer Farida Parveen, widely regarded as 'the Queen of Lalon song', passed away at the Universal Medical College Hospital, Mohakhali, on Saturday night. She was 71. 

Confirming the news, hospital Managing Director Dr Ashis Kumar Chakraborty told UNB that the singer passed away at 10:15 pm.  

Parveen’s family members also confirmed the news on Facebook.

Farida Parveen had been on life support since Wednesday, suffering from multi-organ failures. Medical boards had been formed, and physicians tried their best to stabilize her condition but were unable to do so.  

The renowned artist had long battled kidney complications alongside other health issues. She was admitted to the hospital on September 2 for routine dialysis, but her condition worsened, prompting a transfer to the ICU. 

Parveen had been admitted to the ICU four times over the past six months due to recurring health complications. Both of her kidneys had stopped functioning recently, and her condition became critical due to multi-organ failure, according to her family.  

Meanwhile, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki posted on Facebook, writing, "She was in a different league! A true exponent of Lalon’s song. Her legacy will live on. May Allah give her eternal peace. Ameen. 

on December 31, 1954, Farida Parveen began her musical journey in 1968 as a listed singer at Rajshahi Betar, performing Nazrul songs.  

She gained recognition in 1973 through patriotic songs before receiving formal tr 

Born aining in Lalon music under Moksed Ali Shah, eventually emerging as a living legend of the genre.

Her first husband was the eminent lyricist and singer Abu Zafar, most famous for his patriotic song “Ei Padma Ei Meghna.” From that marriage, she had three sons and a daughter: Zihan Faria, Imam Nimeri Upal, Imam Nahil, and Imam Zafar Numanee. She later married renowned flautist Gazi Abdul Hakim.

Farida Parveen’s contributions to popularising  Lalon Sai’s lyrics and melodies is widely recognized. She performed Lalon songs not only across Bangladesh but also in Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and many other countries. 

Although she is best known as a Lalon singer, several modern and patriotic songs in her voice became popular. Through renditions such as “Khachar Vitor Ochin Pakhi,” “Barir Kache Arshinagar,” and “Ei Padma Ei Meghna,” she secured a lasting place in the hearts of her fans. She also established the ‘Achin Pakhi School’ to teach Lalon songs to the younger generation. 

For her outstanding contributions to music, she received the Ekushey Padak in 1987. She also won the National Film Award as Best Female Singer in 1993 for the song “Nindar Kata” from the film 'Andho Prem' and was awarded Japan’s Fukuoka Prize in 2008. 

She was also the Founder and Chairperson of the Farida Parveen Foundation. - UNB