The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Guwahati has paid tribute to renowned Assamese singer-songwriter Zubeen Garg on the first anniversary of his death, recalling his memorable association with Bangladesh and his performance at the country’s National Day celebration in Guwahati in 2022.

In a tribute posted on its verified Facebook page on Saturday, the Assistant High Commission described Garg as an extraordinary artiste whose music and distinctive voice crossed geographical boundaries and reached millions of listeners.

Garg died in Singapore on 19 September 2025 at the age of 52. A subsequent inquiry by a Singapore state coroner determined that he had died from accidental drowning, with no evidence of foul play.

The Bangladesh mission specifically remembered Garg’s performance at a National Day celebration it organised at ITA Machkhowa in Guwahati in 2022. His appearance at the event remains a notable part of his connection with Bangladesh, particularly in the context of the cultural links between Bangladesh and India’s north-eastern region.

Recalling the occasion, the Assistant High Commission said Garg’s powerful voice and captivating stage presence had made the evening unforgettable. His participation also reflected the wider role of music and cultural exchanges in strengthening people-to-people ties across national borders.

The mission said Garg’s music represented the shared cultural bonds between India and Bangladesh and demonstrated how artistic expression can bring communities closer despite political and geographical boundaries. His work, rooted strongly in Assamese culture while reaching audiences far beyond the state, gave him a distinctive place in the region’s musical landscape.

Garg’s first death anniversary was marked with tributes across Assam. Fans, family members and fellow artistes remembered the singer through various events, reflecting the enduring impact of his music on Assamese cultural life.

A three-day programme was also organised at his memorial in Kamarkuchi near Guwahati. The events formed part of wider commemorations surrounding the anniversary of his death, as admirers gathered to remember his career, music and contribution to Assamese culture.

For many listeners, Garg was more than a singer. Over a career spanning several decades, he became closely associated with Assamese popular music and was recognised for his work as a singer, composer, lyricist and performer. His ability to connect with audiences through different musical forms helped establish him as one of Assam’s most recognisable contemporary artistes.

His death in 2025 prompted widespread mourning in Assam and among admirers elsewhere in India and beyond. The continued commemorations on his first death anniversary underline the lasting place his music holds among his listeners.

The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission also highlighted this enduring legacy in its tribute, saying that although Garg’s voice had fallen silent, his music would continue to live in the hearts of countless admirers.

By recalling his 2022 performance in Guwahati, the mission also underscored the cultural connections that have developed between Bangladesh and Assam. Garg’s contribution to that National Day celebration remains a remembered example of how music can create a shared cultural space between people from different sides of a border.

The Bangladesh mission concluded its tribute by remembering Zubeen Garg as an artiste who would remain “forever in our hearts”.