Shafin Ahmed, unanimously regarded as Bangladesh’s one of the most popular and iconic band artists and former frontman of the legendary Bangladeshi band Miles, has passed away at age 63. The popular Bangladeshi rock bassist, singer-songwriter, and record producer breathed his last while on life support in a hospital in Virginia, United States, on Wednesday (local time) due to heart and kidney failure, according to the Bangladesh Band Music Fans Community (BBMFC). Born on February 14, 1961, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, to the subcontinent’s pioneering music artists Kamal Dasgupta and Feroza Begum, Shafin Ahmed joined the Bangladeshi rock band Miles in 1979. Alongside his brother and another iconic Bangladeshi music artist, Hamin Ahmed, he performed in Miles first as an acoustic guitarist and later became the band’s lead singer and bassist in 1991. After moving to Dhaka during childhood, Shafin Ahmed began his musical career at the age of nine by taking lessons about Nazrul Sangeet, courtesy of his iconic parents. He was exposed to Western musical influences since he studied in England, along with his elder brother Hamin Ahmed, after completing his schooling at the St Joseph Higher Secondary School in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Continuing with Miles as the vocalist, songwriter, composer, and bass guitarist from 1979, Shafin Ahmed first left the band in 2009. He rejoined in 2014 and continued till 2017, left for the second time, and rejoined for his final run with the band in 2018, after permanently leaving the band in 2021. Despite his creative disputes with his bandmates at Miles, Shafin Ahmed performed and collaborated on every album of the band, starting with Miles (1982) and progressing to A Step Farther (1986), Protisruti (the band’s maiden Bengali album, 1991), Prottasha (1993), Prottoy (1996), Proyash (1997), Probaho (2000), Protiddhoni (2006), Proticchobi (2015), and Proborton (2016). After leaving Miles in 2009, he formed his own band, Rhythm of Life, in 2010, which continued till 2014. Shafin Ahmed simultaneously made his place in the country’s music industry as one of its most popular and iconic singers, courtesy of his popular songs, including ‘Aj Jonmodin Tomar’, which is often considered as the anthem of birthday celebrations in the country. Written and composed by eminent music producer Prince Mahmud, the song was first featured in Prince’s mixed album Daag Theke Jay (2004). As the frontman of Miles, Shafin Ahmed is also acclaimed for many popular and superhit tracks, including ‘Phiriye Dao’, ‘Dhiki Dhiki’, ‘Neela’, ‘Chad Tara Surjo',''Ki Jaadu’, ‘Jani Tumi’ and more. He also released several solo albums, including Tomakey (1987), Pagla Ghonti (1998), Chobi Ar Sritigulo (1999), Best of Shafin Ahmed (2001), Kotodin Dekhina Tomay (2006), Virus (2006), Harano Shukh (2007), My Love Songs (2010), and Mone Pore Aj (Nazrul Songs, as a tribute to his mother Feroza Begum, 2016). Besides his successful musical career, Shafin Ahmed also took part in the nation’s politics and even contested at the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) in 2019 for the mayor position from the Jatiya Party. Read more: Will accept whatever results may be, says Shafin

Leading singer-musician James and renowned rock band Miles on Thursday withdrew the cases filed against mobile operator Banglalink and its four officials for allegedly breaching copyright laws. The four accused are Erik Aas, chief executive officer of Banglalink Digital Communication Ltd, Nurul Alam, its chief compliance officer, Taimur Rahman, the chief corporate regulatory affairs officer, and Anik dhar, head of VAS. Also read:4 Banglalink officials get bail in case filed by James Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court granted the withdrawal appeal of James and Hamin Ahmed of Miles, according to defendants’ lawyer Md Matiur Rahman. During the hearing, Manam Ahmed of Miles told the court that the case was filed over "misunderstanding" and that they didn't want to pursue it anymore. Four accused were also present in the court during the hearing. On November 10 last year, Faruq Mahfuz Anam alias James appeared before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate KM Emrul Kayesh and filed a case against Banglalink under the country's copyright laws. Also read: James sues Banglalink for “breaching” copyright law Besides, Hamin Ahmed and Manam Ahmed of Miles band filed another case in the court against Banglalink and the officials over the issue. According to the complaint, Banglalink used many songs of James and Miles band in its ringtones, welcome tunes and even advertisements without their permission from 2007-2021, which is a clear violation of Bangladesh's copyright laws.

A Dhaka court on Monday fixed May 26 for hearing on charge framing in two cases filed country’s rock icon James and band Miles against private mobile service operator Banglalink for breaching the copyright law. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge KM Imrul Kayes passed the order following defendant’s lawyer’s petition  to defer the hearing. The accused in the cases are- Erik Aas, chief executive officer of Banglalink Digital Communication ltd, Nurul Alam, chief digital officer Sanjay Vaghasia, its chief compliance officer, Taimur Rahman, chief corporate regulatory affairs officer and Anik dhar, head of VAS. Also read:4 Banglalink officials get bail in case filed by James Earlier on November 10, last year, Faruq Mahfuz Anam alias James appeared before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate KM Emrul Kayesh and lodged the complaint against mobile operator Banglalink under section 71/82/91 over copyright issue. Besides, Hamin Ahmed and Manam Ahmed of Miles band lodged another complaint with the same court against Banglalink over the copyright issue. After the recording of James’ statement, the Magistrate asked five officials of Banglalink to appear before his court on November 30 and explain their role. Mizanur Rahman Mamun, lawyer of James and Miles band, said Banglalink has been using six songs of James along with “Nila Tumi”,”Firiye Dao” by Miles as welcome tune, ring tone, caller tune and in advertisement for the last 14 years without their permission from 2007-2021, violating the copyright law. Also read: James sues Banglalink for “breaching” copyright law The operator was asked verbally first and later was sent legal notice to remove those songs. They were also sent notice through three ministries but as they did not remove them the plaintiff’s appeared before court for justice failing to lodge a complaint with police, said Mizanur Rahman Mamun.

Country’s one of the oldest and most popular bands – Miles - celebrated its glorious journey of four decades with its fans at a gala concert in the city on Tuesday demonstrating that the music stars still remain young at heart.

Commemorating the eventful journey of 40 years, Miles, one of the legendary and most popular bands in the country, is organising a special concert on December 24.