According to Mannan, the TV channels have very limited interest in promoting upcoming Nazrul artistes because of their preference to financial returns over art and culture. "Though prominent singers get along quite nicely, upcoming artistes get little patronage from them. Aspiring artistes have to struggle to get the attention they deserve," he observed.

NSSP, with its membership now exceeding 190, is working to help upcoming singers in every possible way, Mannan informed. NSSP organises a monthly musical soiree titled Bulbul to promote aspiring artistes. In the programme, besides a senior artiste, three promising singers from Dhaka and one from other regions are given the opportunity to perform.

Mannan also informed that NSSP has prepared a list of deft music directors with proper training in Nazrul songs, as they have witnessed an ongoing trend of TV channels using music directors who have little or no understanding of Nazrul sangeet.

NSSP has expanded its activities to ensure the practice of Nazrul songs maintaining authentic tunes and lyrics in Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions, besides Dhaka. The organisation has also organised a number of workshops and training programmes in these locations, conducted by renowned Nazrul artistes. "We had received positive responses from the local people. We have plans to extend our activities in Sylhet and Rajshahi division within the next month. Gradually we intend to extend our activities furthermore," said Mannan.

Mannan is also involved with Dharmarajik Lalitokala Academy. He is the vice-principal of that academy.

Mannan received his training in Nazrul songs from noted Nazrul exponents -- Sohrab Hossain, Shudhin Das, Sheikh Lutfar Rahman and Bedaruddin Ahmed. On classical music, Mannan had trained under Ustad Narayan Chandra Boshak and Ustad Akhter Sadmani.

Apart from Nazrul songs, Mannan also sings adhunik and folk songs. He is an enlisted artiste of Betar (since 1965) and television (since 1966).