Popular Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has arrived in Dhaka to perform at the "Echoes of Revolution" concert tonight at the capital’s Army Stadium. The renonwed Pakistani singer, known for his timeless tracks such as "Afreen Afreen," "O Re Piya," "Jiya Dhadak Dhadak," "Dil Ka Mizaaj Ishqiya" and more - is the headliner and main act of the concert, which is aimed to support the injured brave souls and affected families of the July Uprising. Rahat landed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 12 am and is currently staying at a five-star hotel in the capital. DMP issues traffic guidelines for ‘Echoes of Revolution’ concert A group of Dhaka University students greeted the popular singer with flowers. Organised by the Spirits of July platform, the concert is also featuring popular local bands and artists including Artcell, Chirkutt, Aftermath, and members of Silsila, and July Uprising-famed rappers Shezan and Hannan.  In order to help victims of the July uprising, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will perform his popular songs at the event for without remuneration. Several other arrangements have been made for the concert, such as toll-free access to the elevated expressway, and subsidised tickets for students. According to a special order issued by NBR on Thursday, the concert has been exempted from the applicable value-added tax (VAT) and supplementary duty. Earlier, the Dhaka Elevated Expressway authorities said it would not collect any toll from vehicles on the day of the concert. Bangladesh Army also waived the rent for the Army Stadium, the venue for the concert. Apart from music, the concert event will feature various corners including a graffiti exhibition related to the July Revolution, a stage play, and a 'Mugdho water zone' in commemoration of the July Martyr Mir Mugdho. The title sponsor of the concert is Prime Bank. Concert tickets have been sold in three categories: 'VIP' (10,000 tk), 'Front Row' (4,500 tk) and 'General' (2,500 tk). Students received discounts for their tickets in all three categories. All proceeds from the concert ticket sales will be donated to the Shaheed July Smriti Foundation to help those injured and killed in the July Uprising. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued special traffic instructions ahead of the “Echoes of Revolution” concert, scheduled to be held at the Bangladesh Army Stadium on Satruday. The traffic guidelines, effective from 2 pm to 11 pm today (Saturday), aim to ensure smooth completion of the event, according to a public notice signed by the DMP Commissioner Sazzat Ali. Guidelines Vehicles traveling from Tongi-Uttara towards Gulshan-Banani-Mohakhali are advised to use alternative routes as traffic may be disrupted from Stafford Rail Gate to Navy Headquarters Crossing. Expressway access Airport, Kuril, and Banani ramps of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway will be toll-free during the designated hours. From 2 pm to 11 pm, users of Airport, Kuril and Banani ramps can use the expressway without paying toll. Vehicles heading from Uttara-Airport towards Gulshan-Banani-Mohakhali can use the expressway by taking a U-turn before Radisson Hotel or the U-loop beneath Banani Overpass. Crackdown on poly bags: Tk 2.5mn in fines collected Vehicles from Gulshan-Banani-Mohakhali can access the expressway through the Airport and Kuril ramps. Vehicles from Airport/Uttara/Tongi can use the Banani ramp. Road closures and restrictions The ECB Square-Banani flyover loop will remain closed. Vehicles from ECB Square to Banani can use the ramp in front of Kurmitola Hospital. Motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, battery-powered rickshaws and bicycles are prohibited from using the expressway ramps. The DMP has urged the public to cooperate in minimising traffic congestion and ensuring the smooth flow of vehicles during the event.

In a gesture of solidarity and support for victims of the July-August uprising, Bangladesh Army has agreed to waive the venue charges for a charity concert organised by Dhaka University students. The event, scheduled for December 21, at the Army Stadium, aims to raise funds for the families of those killed and injured during the uprising, according to ISPR. The concert is being organised under the Spirit of July platform, which was founded to remember the victims and provide ongoing assistance to their families. Bangladesh, Indian armed forces unite to commemorate Victory Day All proceeds from the event will go to the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting the martyrs' families and those affected. In addition, the army has made special arrangements to ease potential traffic congestion around the event. To ensure smooth access to Dhaka airport and minimize public suffering, vehicles carrying air passengers coming from Dhanmondi and Farmgate will be allowed to enter the Cantonment area through Jahangir Gate. These vehicles will be permitted to proceed to Dhaka airport via CMH and Zia Colony, subject to passengers showing their flight tickets. This special route will be available from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm on December 21, 2024. Ambulances carrying patients will also be given priority to use this route during the same hours, added ISPR.

Since the student-led July-August Uprising, large-scale open-air concerts in Dhaka have been put on hold until Friday night’s much-anticipated concert “Magical Night 2.0” at the Army Stadium featuring Pakistani singer Atif Aslam. While the musical experience was enthralling for fans and admirers of the beloved singer, who was accompanied from his motherland by fellow young and popular Abdul Hannan, Bangladesh's own heartthrob Tahsan, the Kaaktaal band, and Bangladeshi EDM and DJ duo Aperuss, the overall experience of audiences and other stakeholders did not match. The main act of the concert began with the young Bangladeshi band Kaaktaal’s performance, who amped up the gradually increasing crowd with their songs like “Rokto Gorom Matha Thanda” and more. Abdul Hannan took the stage at around 7 pm, greeting the crowd by saying, "I am so overwhelmed with your response. This crowd is my biggest crowd so far." Atif Aslam’s Dhaka concert organizers address ticketing concerns, confirm venue Besides his regular songs such as “Iraaday,” he performed Harry Style's "As it was" and his recent collaboration with popular Pakistani band Kaavish at this year's Coke Studio Pakistan, titled "O Yaara."

Featuring a unique amalgamation of seven renowned and popular singer-songwriters in recent times, a special concert titled "Gaanwalader Gaan" will be held at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy Auditorium on November 2, from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The line-up for the concert will feature Rezaul Karim Leemon, Joy Shahriar, Ahmed Hassan Sunny, Sovvota, Shuvro, Suhrid Swagata, and the Kaaktaal band. All of these artists have garnered prominence in recent years among music lovers, especially among young audiences. Pakistani superstar Atif Aslam to return to Bangladesh for concert in November These participating artists are all singer-songwriters. In other words, everyone contributes their voices to the music they have written and composed themselves. In this context, singer-songwriter Joy Shahriar, on behalf of the organisers and artists, said: “In the world of music, those who put the melody in their own words and record it in their own voice are known as'singer-songwriters’. We named them ‘Gaanwala'—these artists are a little different.” "These artists perform their own songs since everyone has a unique manner of speaking, philosophy, and views. The journey of these artists in Bengali music has been similar since the beginning, and their effect among listeners is enormous," Joy remarked. To shed the spotlight on these popular singers and their majestic creations, Aajob Karkhana is hosting this special concert, according to Joy Shahriar. Tickets for ‘Gaanwalader Gaan’ are available at getsetrock.com.

In a move towards inclusivity, the Joy Bangla Concert 2024 has announced special arrangements to accommodate female attendees. Young Bangla, through its verified Facebook page, revealed that dedicated entrances and spaces will be reserved exclusively for women. “Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and camaraderie,” beckons the announcement, highlighting the concert’s commitment to a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Scheduled to take place at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram, this year’s event marks a significant departure from tradition, being the first time the concert is held outside the capital city, Dhaka. This strategic shift not only broadens the geographical appeal of the event but also pays homage to the historical essence of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence, invoking the spirit of Bangabandhu’s iconic March 7 speech. Art Therapy through Printmaking’: Gallery Cosmos’s unique offering at Dhaka Flow’s wellness festival Since its inception in 2015 by the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), the Joy Bangla Concert has evolved into a cornerstone of cultural celebrations, particularly among the youth. After pausing due to the global pandemic, the concert made a roaring comeback in 2023, continuing to honour the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War. The event stands out for its unique blend of musical entertainment and historical reflection, creating a deeply resonant experience for attendees. The 2024 edition promises to be a grand musical fiesta, featuring performances from a mix of popular and emerging rock bands. The line-up, as announced by Young Bangla, includes fan favourites such as Artcell, Cryptic Fate, Avoid Rafa, Nemesis, Chirkutt, Meghdol, Lalon, the local sensation Tirondaz from Chattogram, and Carnival. These acts are set to electrify the stage, celebrating the rich musical heritage of Bangladesh and inspiring a new generation with the indomitable spirit of its people. Read more: Most-hyped Bollywood Movies Releasing on March 2024

Amid an overwhelming rush among young music lovers to secure tickets for the much-awaited Joy Bangla Concert 2023, the organizers have issued a scam alert. Young Bangla, country’s largest youth platform that hosts the concert, issued an alert reminding everyone that registration for tickets is free, and urged all not to “purchase” tickets to Joy Bangla Concert 2023 if being offered. The organizers also apologized for the inconvenience caused by an overwhelming response after registration was opened for free tickets to the concert, and informed that due to limited capacity at Dhaka’s Army Stadium, they can accommodate up to a certain number of music lovers at the venue. This year, Joy Bangla Concert will be held on March 8, under the supervision of Centre for Research and Information (CRI). Young Bangla has been holding the rock concert since 2015 to instil the spirit of the Liberation War among youths. Concert-goers are requested to log into ticket.youngbangla.org to avail their e-tickets. For registration, the participants will require their passport-sized photos and images of their ID cards. NIDs, ID cards of their educational institutions, passports, and driving licenses will be accepted. Continuing the previous years’ trend, the concert this year is set to feature iconic and emerging bands of the country such as Artcell, Avoid Rafa, Lalon, Chirkutt, Cryptic Fate, Karnival, Meghdol, Nemesis and Arekta Rock Band. Starting in 2015, in successive years, the country’s biggest concert for youths added some special features such as presentation of the coloured version of the speech in 2016. The speech, transformed from black and white into colour, appeared onscreen before an audience of 30,000 youths at the concert.

One of the most awaited youth events, Joy Bangla Concert, is back this year – following a two-year gap due to the coronavirus pandemic – and this year, music loving youngsters are in for a bigger and better return. The announcement of the return of the musical extravaganza, on the Facebook page of Young Bangla, has already created a hype on social media with netizens sharing their memorable moments from previous instalments of the concert. Many also welcomed the organizers’ move to bring back this fusion of music and history.   Already deemed as the biggest concert for youths and attended by the Prime Minister in the last instalment in 2020, the event was held every year between 2015 and 2020 – to highlight the historic March 7 speech of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that set the tone for the country’s independence through the Liberation War. However, considering the Holy Shab-e-Barat, this year the concert will be held on March 8 at its regular venue – Army Stadium – with registration for free tickets to be opened soon, according to organizers. Read more:Top 10 Upcoming South Indian Movies in March 2023 Keeping up with the previous years’ unique trend, the concert this year is set to feature iconic and emerging bands of the country such as Artcell, Avoid Rafa, Lalon, Chirkutt, Cryptic Fate, Karnival, Meghdol, Nemesis and Arekta Rock Band. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana appeared at the concert in 2020 while Center for Research and Information (CRI) trustee Radwan Mujib Siddiq attended the entire concert. The concert, making its debut in 2015, has become a part of the country’s pop culture and a household name in the live music industry – stitching the wartime patriotic melodies of Bangladesh with the rock genre. In 2020, hundreds of thousands of youths at the concert were astounded when a holographic image of Bangabandhu appeared on stage with the same towering figure, baritone voice, and that famous index finger that shook the repressive Pakistan regime half a century ago.

Music lovers in Dhaka turned out at the series premiere of ‘Ei Somoy’, an exclusive series of concerts, at the Liberation War Museum auditorium on Friday (October 14, 2022). ‘Chapter One’ of this series had seven popular bands perform live – Meghdol, Avash, Shonar Bangla Circus, Shohojia, Shohortoli, Bangla Five and Apekkhik – captivating the packed auditorium from 3 pm till 10 pm. Organised by Acoustica and powered by Metal Freak T-Shirt, the concert began with the performances of Apekkhik. The autumnal afternoon was then greeted by Bangla Five, enthralling the fans with their popular tracks including “Left Right.” Sohortoli performed their fan-favourites after Bangla Five. Shohojia came up next with their popular tracks “Chhoto Pakhi,” “Ma,” “Jadukor” and more. Read: Kabir Suman 'to go ahead with concerts in Dhaka' Fans enjoyed the songs by Shonar Bangla Circus next, known for their unique line-up and majestic theatrical performances. Vocalist Probar Ripon delivered one after another hit of the band, including “Ondho Deyal,” “Ami Valobashi Tomake,” “Mrittu Utpadon Karkhana” and more, alongside the captivating instrumental performances of his bandmates. Avash with Tanzir Tuhin was up next, covering a couple of popular tracks including “Prithibita Naki Chhoto Hotey Hotey” by the Indian Bangla band Moheener Ghoraguli, alongside originals including “Avash” and “Nishchup Adhar.” Meghdol, the showstopper band of the night, then took the stage and had the crowd singing along to “Esho Amar Shohore,” “Kichhu Bishad Hok Pakhi,” “Nirban,” and ended the show with their latest track “E Hawa” from their upcoming album ‘Aluminum er Dana.’ “We did this arrangement with some psychedelic bands for the first chapter, and in coming days, new bands will be added to this event,” said Saikot Biswas Tutul, coordinator of the concert. Beyond the capital, ‘Ei Somoy’ will move forward in different parts of the country, he added.

Internationally acclaimed Bengal singer-lyricist-composer Kabir Suman is all set to go ahead with his concerts in Dhaka as scheduled -- but the venue has changed. The three concerts will be held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), auditorium instead of Bangladesh National Museum on October 15, 18 and 21. This is because Kabir Suman has not been given the permission to hold the concerts at Bangladesh National Museum in Shahbagh, Mir Arif Billah of event management firm Peephole, told UNB on Friday. “I am just saying that Kabir Suman will sing at IEB. Permission is almost done. I will reveal the details later," he added. Read: No DMP permission for Kabir Suman concert at National Museum On Thursday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said that it did not give permission for the Kabir Suman concert, as Bangladesh National Museum is a key point installation. DMP commissioner MD Shafiqul Islam said, "We did not give permission for the concert at Bangladesh National Museum, as the venue is a key point installation. But if the organisers seek permission to hold the event elsewhere, we will consider it.” The concerts are set to mark the 30-year anniversary of Kabir Suman’s popular album 'Tomake Chai'.