The year was 2005. Two friends, Aftabuzzaman Tridib and Sheikh Riaz, regularly met for discussions about their careers and lives. These conversations often veered towards music, which sparked the idea to form a band that would reflect their thoughts and life experiences, and speak out on the issues facing society and the nation. They wanted to create something unique that would mirror their own way of life and worldview.
On 23rd November 2005, they held their first practice session at Music Mania in Dhanmondi. Alongside Tridib (vocals) and Riaz (drums), Russo Khan (bass) and Tamjid Khan (guitar) joined them. Within a month, guitarist Imran Ahmed came on board, and thus Mechanics was born.
The first six months were dedicated to intense practice. The band members made a vow — no concert until they were truly ready. Tridib reflects, “It was this tough decision that meant we never had to look for concerts. Instead, concerts found us.”
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Rising to Fame with De Rockstar
In 2007, Mechanics participated in the second season of De Rockstar. Although they were eliminated in the semifinals, their performance earned them widespread recognition. Tridib shares, “We didn’t have high expectations at the start. We thought this genre of music might not appeal to the general audience.” However, during the audition, the judges, including Shafin Ahmed, Ershad Zaman, and Tony (Black), praised their performance. Tridib recalls, “Shafin Bhai came down from the stage and shook our hands. That moment made us feel like we could do it!” After the show aired, people all over the country started talking about them. Their songs Kalo Bikkhov and Aporajeyo struck a chord with audiences.
The Story of Breakups and Makeups
Like many bands, Mechanics faced their fair share of ups and downs. In 2008, when they began work on their debut album Aporajeyo, guitarist Imran Ahmed left the band. Jehine Ahmed replaced him, and the following year, their first song Dhruvashor was released on the mixed album Rock 202. The track quickly became one of the band’s biggest hits.
In 2010, founding member Russo left the band, and Nadvi Walid joined as the new bassist. With this lineup, Mechanics released their debut album Aporajeyo under Deadline Music in 2011.
Struggles and Challenges
2013 was a particularly challenging year for Mechanics. Guitarist Tamjid left the band due to personal reasons, and Nadvi moved abroad. The band’s future seemed uncertain. However, new members Shahid (guitar) and Tanim Pabel (bass) joined, and their song Eliji, featured on the Rock Ten mixed album, received positive feedback from fans.
During this period, Jehine Ahmed fell seriously ill, suffering from severe gastric complications and physical weakness. The band had to perform with guest members for a while. By 2016, after Jehine’s partial recovery, Mechanics returned to the stage. Nadvi returned as bassist, and Shahid was replaced by Safat Chowdhury on guitar. The band — now consisting of Tridib, Jehine, Riaz, Safat, and Salek — began a new chapter.
The Final Goodbye to Jehine
On 22nd July 2017, Mechanics faced a devastating loss when guitarist Jehine Ahmed passed away. Tridib recalls, “We were mentally shattered by Jehine’s passing. It felt like if Mechanics stopped, we might not survive either. But we decided to honour his memory and continue.” The band decided to press on, with guest member Shubho joining the lineup, and released the song Niyoti, a tribute to Jehine and the former band members. The song resonated deeply with their fans.
The Struggle Continues
Yet, the rollercoaster ride wasn’t over. Towards the end of 2018, Salek left the band, and Shubho focused on his solo career. However, by the end of the year, guitarist Saif Irfan and bassist Soumik Islam joined the band. Tridib says, “With Saif and Soumik, it felt like a new ray of hope. Saif and I had strong chemistry from the beginning, and he is an exceptional guitarist. Soumik is a highly skilled metal player. This lineup is now our new foundation.” He also credits their manager Mithun Hasan, who, since 2015, has made their journey much smoother.
Celebrating Two Decades
Now, 20 years later, Mechanics is celebrating their milestone with a nationwide concert tour. They have already performed in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Comilla, and Jessore, with plans to tour more districts in the coming months. A large concert in Dhaka is also in the works, where former band members will join them on stage. Tridib shares, “We believe music has the power to change the world. We want to take Mechanics even further. If we can last for 40 years like Warfaze, that will be our success. The biggest achievement for a band is the understanding between its members, where even without speaking, the others understand your thoughts. That understanding has been our greatest victory after 20 years.”