HSBC launches second volume of 'Shotoborsher Bangla Gaan'
Karim Waheed
To celebrate the last 100 years of Bangla music, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC) in Bangladesh held a musical soiree at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, Dhaka in February 2006. The colossal event was attended by who's who in the social and cultural scene. Encouraged by the massive response from music enthusiasts in the country and to preserve the songs presented at that event, HSBC recorded the performances in three CDs. The collection titled Shotoborsher Bangla Gaan was launched in May, last year.This year in February, HSBC organised another musical soiree on a grander scale (also titled Shotoborsher Bangla Gaan), a continuation to last year's initiative. Featuring 42 songs back-to-back by A-listed artistes including Shahnaz Rahmatullah, Sabina Yasmin, Mitali Mukharji, Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna, Mita Haque, Syed Abdul Hadi, Samina Chowdhury, Bashir Ahmed, Ram Kanai Das and several others, the evening pulled in around 1200 music lovers. Channel i will air the programme in May. On April 11, HSBC launched the second volume of Shotoborsher Bangla Gaan at Bay's Galleria. The Album is collection of 4 CDs and includes all 42 songs performed at the programme held in February 2007. At the album launch, Mustafizur R Khan, head of Marketing and Public Relations, HSBC Bangladesh said, "Recording live performances while ensuring the quality of sound is challenging; the credit goes to Tanvir Alam (sound engineer) and Bengal Music Company Ltd for technical assistance." Md Mahbub-ur-Rahman, corporate banking head of HSBC, hoped that music enthusiasts would enjoy reliving the golden era of Bangla music. Steve Banner, CEO of HSBC Bangladesh said, "HSBC is committed to promote the local culture and heritage. The Shotoborsher Bangla Gaan concerts and albums are part of that initiative." Dr. Karunamaya Goswami, noted researcher and music exponent said, "History records the evolution of music in this part of the world goes back 1,100 years but the last century in particular is the most significant period in our music. Kudos to HSBC for organising these impressive programmes and bringing out albums featuring classic Bangla songs. Hopefully their endeavours will continue in bigger and better ways." According to HSBC, while the limited edition album will not be available for sale, complimentary copies will be made available to customers who take out new personal instalment loans between April 15 and May 30, 2007.
|
(L-R): Mustafizur R Khan, Md Mahbub-ur-Rahman, Steve Banner and Dr Karunamaya Goswami at the album launch. PHOTO: STAR |
