This year’s programme featured songs by Radharaman Dutta, Hason Raja, Ukil Munshi, Shah Abdul Karim and other influential figures in Bengali folk music. Despite the rain, music enthusiasts gathered on Monday evening at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, to enjoy performances by artists from different parts of the country.
The festival has been organised annually by the Radharaman Sanskriticharcha Kendra since 2011. Previous editions were held in open-air venues, allowing audiences to experience the music in a more traditional setting. This year, however, circumstances forced the organisers to make changes to the format and limit the programme to a single day. Instead of an outdoor gathering, the songs of Bhati Bengal were performed on the auditorium stage.
The event opened with a special award presented to Baul singer Md Harun Mia, who also formally inaugurated the festival. Raised in a remote village in Sunamganj, Harun expressed his gratitude for the recognition. Paying tribute to those present, he said receiving such acknowledgement through an initiative dedicated to folk music was a source of great joy for him.
Chief guest Fazlur Rahman, a Member of Parliament and freedom fighter, spoke about the enduring importance of Baul music and its influence on human values. He said the tradition should not be viewed merely as a form of entertainment, but as an essential part of keeping humanity alive.
“Just as human beings cannot survive without air, humanity would struggle to survive without Baul music,” he said.
He also observed that music and melody played an important role in the development of civilisation. Recalling his childhood and adolescence in the Bhati region, Rahman mentioned the songs of Ukil Munshi, Hason Raja and Radharaman, highlighting how deeply their music had shaped his early memories.
Music director and composer Sheikh Sadi Khan expressed concern over what he described as a decline in cultural practice, warning that it was holding society back. He said cultural engagement was indispensable to social progress and that there could be no meaningful substitute for it. Referring to the power of music to confront destructive influences, he praised the Radharaman Sanskriticharcha Kendra for its continued efforts to preserve and promote the region’s musical heritage.
Music remained at the heart of the evening. Performers presented songs by Syed Shahnoor, Radharaman, Hason Raja, Jalal Khan, Ukil Munshi, Deen Sharot, Manmohan Dutta, Shah Abdul Karim and Durbin Shah. Through these performances, audiences were introduced to the diverse themes of Bhati folk music, including love, spirituality, human relationships and the everyday experiences of rural communities.
The songs of Bhati Bengal are known for their simple language and profound reflections on life. Their lyrics often draw inspiration from rivers, haors, nature and the rhythms of village life. Spiritual questions and human emotions frequently come together in the works of the region’s mystic poets, giving the tradition a distinctive place in Bangladesh’s cultural heritage.
Artists travelled from several districts to take part in the festival, joining performers from the capital. Sunamganj sent nine musicians, including Ranesh Thakur and Baul Siraj Uddin. Five artists came from Netrokona, while three performers, including Sagar Dewan, represented Brahmanbaria. Their participation reflected the continued presence of folk music practitioners across different parts of the country.
Alongside the musical performances, the organisers renewed their call for the establishment of a Radharaman Complex. The Radharaman Sanskriticharcha Kendra has long advocated the creation of a dedicated centre to preserve and promote the life, songs and philosophy of Radharaman Dutta, the celebrated Vaishnava lyricist and mystic poet. Such an institution, the organisation believes, would provide greater opportunities for preserving his musical legacy, conducting research and encouraging younger generations to engage with his work.
In his welcome address, the organisation’s general secretary, Biswajit Roy, explained why this year’s festival had to be organised on a smaller scale. He said the prevailing circumstances had made an open-air event impractical, requiring changes to both the venue and schedule. Following an application from the organisers, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy had allocated its auditorium for a one-day programme.
Rajat Dutta delivered the opening remarks, while the event was chaired by artist Akramul Islam. Abul Khayer also addressed the gathering. Recitation artists Rafiqul Islam and Naila Tarannum Kakoli conducted the programme.
Although the festival was shorter and held indoors this year, it offered an opportunity to reconnect Dhaka’s audiences with the musical traditions of Bhati Bengal. The performances also highlighted the continuing efforts of folk artists and cultural organisations to keep the songs and philosophy of the region’s legendary musicians alive.
