Fakir Alamgir: End of an era

Bangladeshi folk legend Fakir Alamgir, 71, breathed his last from Covid-19. His son Mashuk Alamgir Rajib confirmed the news to Bangladeshi media outlets. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

His son Mashuk Alamgir Rajib told the press that Alamgir had a heart attack while he was on ventilation in the Covid unit around 10 pm on Friday (July 23). 

Alamgir was officially announced dead by United Hospital’s ICU head Dr Amina Sultana at 10:57 pm on the same day.

The eminent singer had been suffering from fever and cough related problems for several days. He was tested Covid-19 positive after testing by his doctor's advice 

His breathing issues escalated on the same day (Thursday, July 15). He was first taken to a private hospital on the capital’s Green Road. But later on, moved to Gulshan’s intensive care unit (ICU) in United Hospital. 

He already had problems with diabetes and high blood pressure. This caused the complications to increase. Two bags of plasma therapy made him a bit better for a while.

Mashuk also informed that his father's oxygen saturation dropped to 45 percent around 10:30 pm on Sunday which prompted his doctors to recommend ventilation.

Fakir Alamgir's oxygen saturation had risen to 90 percent after ventilation. After a while infections were found in his blood and lungs and his blood pressure kept going down. 

His fever gradually increased each morning afterwards which then prompted his medical team to recommend new antibiotics from Friday evening. 

Yet, his situation kept deteriorating, eventually losing to Corona, and the legendary folk musician breathed his last on the same night.

Early life

Son of Hachen Uddin Fakir and Begum Habibunnesa, Alamgir was born on February 21, 1950, at Kalamridha village in Faridpur's Bhanga upazila. He spent his childhood there.

Education

He completed his secondary education at Shilpi KalaMridha Govinda High School in 1966 and started his undergrad at capital’s Jagannath College (Now Jagannath University). 

He graduated from Jagannath and obtained his MA degree in Journalism from Dhaka University.

Musical Career

Fakir Alamgir started practising music in the early sixties. He also made a reputation as a popular flutist during that period. 

Alamgir was a dedicated Bangladesh Students’ Union activist and was best known for his contributions to Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the 1971 Liberation War as he inspired the front liners in the war effort with his music.

He joined the 1969's Gonoobhutthan as a member of the Kranti Shilpi Gosthi and Gono Shilpi Gosthi. These organisations have played a huge role in various national movements and struggle in the sixties, in the mass uprising of '69 by performing mass music,  the Liberation War of '71 and the mass movement against the military rule of the ‘90s.

In his impressive career, a lot of his songs became immensely popular. His song 'O Sakhina' is considered a classic. 

The song became a household name after being aired on BTV's 'Anandamela' program back in 1982. 

He is also the founder of many cultural organisations like the Rishi Shilpi Gosthi. 

Besides, he was voted as the president of Bangladesh Gana Sangeet Samonnoy Parishad, vice-president of the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, member of Jan Songjog Samiti and dedicatedly served in several important cultural organizations of the country.

A renowned columnist and writer

Alamgir published his first book in 1984 and his writings became very popular among the readers. His third publication, ‘Gono Sangeeter Otit O Bortoman,’ turned out to be a major hit in both Bangladesh and in Kolkata (India). 

So far, Alamgir has more than ten published books under his name and released his last titled ‘Abohoman Banglar Loko Sangeet.’

The popular singer-author and a Journalism graduate became a popular columnist in the '90s and wrote for popular Bangladeshi dailies like Ajker Kagoj and Bhorer Kagoj.

Awards

​​The eminent musician received the prestigious Ekushey Padak, the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh, back in 1999 for his contribution to Bangladeshi music.

He also received awards like 'Sher-e-Bangla Padak', 'Bhasani Padak', 'Sequence Award of Honor', 'Tarkbagish Gold Padak', 'Jasimuddin Gold Padak', and 'Kanto Kabi Padak' for his special contribution in the field of music. 

He was also awarded 'Mahasammanna by the Government of West Bengal', 'Tripura Culture Coordination Award', 'Dhallywood Award United States', 'Janasangjog Samiti Special Honor', 'Channel i Music Award Special Award' and 'Bangla Academy Honorary Fellowship.'

Bangladesh's PM and President has already shared their condolences on his death.

The news of his death spread like wildfire with netizens of Bangladesh as they are sharing and remembering the folk legend on social media platforms and sharing his works online.