Staff Reporter :
Eminent singer Shahnaz Rahmatullah was laid to eternal rest at Banani Military graveyard in Dhaka on Sunday.
Before the burial, her first Namaz-e-Janaza was held at the ‘Park Mosque’ at Baridhara after Zohr prayers.
Shahnaz Rahmatullah, the queen of modern Bangla music with an illustrious career spanning decades, passed away at her Baridhara residence on Saturday night at the age of 67.
“She suffered a major cardiac arrest,” said lyricist Shafiq Tuhin.
The singer left behind husband, one son and one daughter and a host of relatives, well-wishers and thousands of spectators to mourn her death.
Barrister Mainul Hosein, has expressed his profound shock and sorrow at the death of popular singer Shahnaz Rahmatullah. On Sunday morning, he visited Shahnaz Rahmatullah’s residence and talked to her husband Abul Bashar Rahmatullah and family members.
Barrister Mainul prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed his sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.
He also recalled, with profound respect, Shahnaz Rahmatullah’s contribution to the Bangladesh’s music industry.
Shahnaz was born on January 2, 1952 in Dhaka.
The singer’s notable songs include ‘Ekbar Jete De Na Amar Chhotto Sonar Gaye’, ‘Je Chhilo Drishtir Shimanay’ and ‘Ek Tara Tui Desher Kotha’.
Her main areas of singing entailed modern (Adhunik) and patriotic songs.
Shahnaz emerged as a singer in Dhaka in the mid-1960s. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, she sang many patriotic songs, including ‘Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhe’ and ‘Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan’ to inspire the freedom fighters as well as freedom-seeking people of the country. In her career, she also had playback voice in many songs for Urdu films as well as gazals in the Pakistan era.
In recognition of her timeless songs, she was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1992, National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the film ‘Chhutir Phandey’ in 1990, Bangladesh Shilpakala Award and many more.
Actor Zafar Iqbal and music director Anwar Parvez were Shahnaz Rahmatullah’s brothers.
