Campus Report :
A new gold medal namely ‘Firoza Begum Gold Medal’ has been introduced at Dhaka University (DU). Brigadier General (Rtd) M Dowla, brother of late singer Firoza Begum handed over a cheque for Tk. 60 lakh to DU Treasurer Prof Dr Md. Kamal Uddin on Tuesday at the VC office of DU to introduce the gold medal. It may be mentioned that ACI Foundation has donated this money.
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Dr Nasreen Ahmad, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Prof Dr Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies Prof Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam, Chairperson of the Department of Dance Prof Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Chairperson of the Department of Music Dr Leena Taposi, Chairman of ACI Foundation M Anis Ud Dowla, Firoza Begum’s two sons- Shafin Ahmed and Hamin Ahmed were present on this occasion.
Out of the income of this donation, every year one vocal music artist of the country who will be selected by the DU Jury Board will be awarded ‘Firoza Begum Gold Medal.’
Prof Arefin Siddique thanked the ACI Foundation for introducing this gold medal at Dhaka University and hoped that this initiative would play an effective role to upgrade music world. The VC also paid his glowing tributes to the memory of late Firoza Begum.
It may be mentioned that Late Firoza Begum, a renowned Nazrul Geeti singer was born in Gopalganj District on 28 July 1930. She developed her interest to music in her childhood. She started her career in 1940s. She first sang in All India Radio while studying in sixth grade. She met poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at the age of 10. She became a student of him.
Firoza had been awarded Independence Award, Netaji Shuvash Chandra Award, Satyajit Ray Award, Nasiruddin Gold Medal, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Gold Medal, Best Nazrul Sangeet Singer Award, Nazrul Academy Award, Churulia Gold Medal, D.Lit from Bordwan University, Gold Disk from CBS, Japan, Lifetime honorary award from Meril-Prothom Alo, Bongo Shomman from Mamata Banerjee and Sheltech Award. She died on 9 September 2014 in Dhaka.
