United News of Bangladesh

Prominent Indian singer-songwriter, politician, and cultural personality Kabir Suman has withdrawn his decision to donate his body after death, a commitment he made nearly four years ago. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the renowned musician wrote, “Ramadan Mubarak. I want to inform everyone that some time ago, I announced on Facebook that I had donated my body and did not wish for any religious funeral rites. After much thought, I have changed my decision. I am withdrawing my wish to donate my body.” Will Smith still grappling with Oscars ‘slap gate’ fallout He added, “I want to be buried in Kolkata, preferably in Gobra, following Islamic traditions. This is my final decision, and I have informed some of my close relatives.” Suman also made it clear that he does not want any criticism or opinions regarding his decision. “I do not want any comments or opinions on this announcement,” he wrote. The singer, born in a Hindu Brahmin family in India’s Odisha on March 16, 1949, as Suman Chattopadhyay, gained immense popularity in the 1990s for introducing a unique musical style blending poetry with melody. In 2000, he converted to Islam and adopted the name Kabir Suman, clarifying that he took the name Kabir after Sheikh Kabir, a Bengali Muslim poet who wrote ‘Baishnab Padabali.’ His groundbreaking album ‘Tomake Chai,’ released in April 1992, revolutionised Bengali music. Since then, the singer has remained a celebrated figure in both Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. Beyond music, he was also involved in politics, supporting Mamata Banerjee during the Nandigram and Singur movements. He later became a Member of Parliament from Jadavpur under the Trinamool Congress but eventually parted ways with the party due to ideological differences. Kabir Suman has maintained a deep connection with Bangladesh, which began with his first visit to Dhaka in 1996 to perform at a fundraising concert for the Liberation War Museum. Since 2000, he has been married to the iconic Bangladeshi singer Sabina Yasmin. Robert Pattinson jokes about ageing as Batman amid sequel delay More recently, Dhaka hosted a special event titled “Tomake Chai-er 30 Bochor Udjapon” to celebrate 30 years of his iconic album ‘Tomake Chai’.

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'.

Internationally acclaimed West Bengal singer-lyricist-composer Kabir Suman is scheduled to perform for fans in Dhaka with three concerts — from Saturday — at the National Museum. On Thursday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said that it did not give permission for the Kabir Suman concert, as National Museum is a key point installation (KPI). DMP Commissioner MD Shafiqul Islam confirmed the matter to UNB, saying, "We did not give permission for the concert at Bangladesh National Museum, as the venue is a key point installation. The three-day event is being organised by event management company Peephole, which disclosed the details of the event at a press conference at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro on Wednesday. Peephole executives Fuad Bin Omar and Mir Arif Billah revealed the arrangement of the concert at the press conference. They, however, did not mention whether they secured permission from DMP or not. Read: Leading Indian singer Kabir Suman hospitalised Tickets for the Kabir Suman concert on October 15 and 21 were sold out within 72 hours and tickets for October 18 were nearing being stocked out, the organisers said at the press conference. They also informed that there will be virtual tickets for Sumon fans at home and abroad. UNB tried to reach Omar and Billah for comments, but they were unreachable till the time of filing this report.   The concerts were set to mark the 30-year anniversary of Kabir Suman’s popular album “Tomake Chai”.

Leading Indian guitarist, poet and singer Kabir Suman, who is married to popular Bangladeshi singer Sabina Yasmin, has been hospitalised in the eastern city of Kolkata with symptoms of Covid. The 72-year-old former lawmaker of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress party was rushed to the premier government-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata late Sunday night after he complained of breathlessness. "Kabir Suman was admitted to the hospital late last night with fever and shortness of breath. At the time of admission, his oxygen level was 90," Dr Soumitra Ghosh of SSKM Hospital, told the local media. "We are waiting for his Covid test report," said Dr Ghosh, the head of the hospital's medicine department. Originally a Hindu, the musician changed his name from Suman Chattopadhyay to Kabir Suman when he converted to Islam in protest against the killing of a Christian missionary by a Hindu fundamentalist in the eastern state of Odisha some 22 years ago. A pioneer of alternative Bengali music, Kabir Suman shot to fame in the 1990s with popular albums such as Tomake Chai (I Want You) and Boshe Anko (Sit-and-Draw). All the songs in his albums were written, composed and sung by him. Suman, who worked as a journalist in Nicaragua during the Sandinista revolution, also served as a Trinamool Congress MP from 2009 to 2014. Currently, he shares his political views via his own website.