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Feature

AIDS Day concert......

Mahdin Mahboob

1st December 2006 World AIDS Day was observed in Bangladesh with great enthusiasm. We, at BRAC University did it with a stroke of difference! A seminar was followed by a musical concert (by the BRAC University students) made this night truly special. Organized by the GAFBU (Global Affairs Forum BRAC University) and the BUCuC (BRAC University Cultural Club) this event saw hundreds of students flocking into our Indoor Sports Room turned makeshift auditorium for the purpose.

Dr. Tasnim Azim, Scientist of Virology from the Laboratory Research Department and Laboratory Sciences Division of ICDDRB presented a short interactive lecture on the basics about AIDS causes, ways it spread, ways to prevent it and the most important of all - the fact that although Bangladesh is a low prevalence country for HIV/AIDS all the factors that may allow rapid spread of infection leading to an epidemic are present here. These factors include high-risk behaviour, lack of awareness, very mobile populations and being surrounded by countries that have a higher prevalence of HIV.

The fun part started with our favourite Tahmid (Close Up 1 Final 10 Participant of 2005) taking on the stage and with his magical voice mesmerizing everyone with the popular track 'Mon Shudhu Mon Chhuechhe'. He also showed his maestro with a Jagjit Singh Gazal.

Salman, our D' Rockstar participant was no less and started with the timeless 'Mone Pore' of Warfaze and got the crowd singing with him with LRB's 'Shei Tumi'.

Adnan, with his long hair and white punjabi (accentuating the 'James look') was the last of the three solo performers and enchanted everyone with his songs of James including the hit singles 'Nirabai' and 'Bondhu Ashbe Bohudin Pore'.

Xorostrians were the first band to perform with their big time head banging heavy metal tracks including Artcell's recent hit 'Sritisharok'.

Purba-Pashchim, the only guest band of the night came in next and mesmerized everyone with their instrumental performances of 'Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi' and others.

The crowd literally got on their feet with 'Symphony of Destruction' by Megadeth performed by Cynic-X. Composed of Shabab and Naved from BRAC, this band also presented 12 Stones' 'Broken' and 'I disappear' of Metallica, much to the delight of the jampacked audience.

Last but not the least came in the famous BU band 'Scarecrow'. They presented Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' and 'Sad but true' and two of their own tracks from their first album including the hit single 'Oparthib'.

The organizers had earlier presented all the performers with bouquets of flowers and other mementos. The program showcased our university's hidden talents the music professionals of tomorrow and was educational to an extent as well.

But alas, all good things come to an end and when Scarecrow's performance ended, it also meant that the show was over. The great event, done for a noble cause thus ended up being a huge success in all respects.

Email : mahdin.mahboob@gmail.com