Anup Bhattacharya, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste and freedom fighter, passed away on Thursday. He was 77.

He breathed his last at 7:30 pm at the Asgar Ali Medical College Hospital in the capital, renowned lyricist Kabir Bakul Saïd.

According to family sources, the singer was suffering from various old-age complications. He also suffered from lung problems, diabetes and high blood pressure for a long time.

His body is being kept at the mortuary of Birdem Hospital tonight. His last rites will take place in Dhaka tomorrow.

Anup Bhattacharya was born in Zakiganj, Sylhet in 1954. His journey as a vocalist began on March 11, 1963 with Tagore songs as an enlisted singer in the Rajshahi station of the then Radio Pakistan.

During the 1971 Liberation War, he worked as a composer and music director at Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and lend his voice to patriotic songs like "Teer Hara Ei Dheu-er Sagor", "Rokto Diye Naam Likhhechhi", "Purbo Digonte" and "Nongor Tolo Tolo".

After independence, he emerged as a composer with popular songs such as "Baishakhi Megher Kachhey Jol Cheye", "Shuk Pakhi Rey Pinjira Tor", "Ekattorer Juddher Diney", "Pakhi Janey Na Keno Kandey", "Lalon Tomar Aarshinagar" and "Notey Gachh Moraeye Na", among more than 100 songs in his illustrious career.

Considered as one of the forerunners of modern Bangladeshi music genre, Anup Bhattacharya was also a founder member of the Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha. In his career, he worked with many iconic singers including Andrew Kishore, Mitali Mukherji, Rafiqul Alam, Dilruba Khan, Samina Chowdhury and more.