Desk Report:
The ‘Bangladesh Bhawaiya Parishad’ in Ulipur Upazila, Kurigram, has reached a significant milestone in its mission to preserve the long history and rich tradition of Bhawaiya music.
Established in 1993 in the Panchpir area of Durgapur Union, Ulipur Upazila, the organization has long conducted its practice and pursuit of Bhawaiya music within a simple, tin-roofed shed. It is from this modest structure that nearly 3,000 Bhawaiya artists—many of whom have gained acclaim both at home and abroad—have emerged.
Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, the organization continued its activities in that humble tin-roofed shed for years. Now, however, an initiative has been launched to construct a permanent, modern, multi-story building for the institution. The project, estimated to cost approximately 10 million BDT (1 crore taka), is being realized with the support of the local administration, prominent corporate groups, and distinguished individuals. Notably, the Bashundhara Group—one of the country’s leading industrial conglomerates—has provided a substantial donation toward this endeavor. With these contributions and the support of the local community, the foundation stone for the new multi-story building was officially laid this Friday afternoon.
A vibrant discussion session was held to mark the laying of the foundation stone, located near the Kurigram-Chilmari road in the Panchpir area of Durgapur Union, Ulipur Upazila. The building is being constructed on a 5-decimal plot of land donated by local philanthropist Gelap Hossain.
The event was presided over by Advocate Pradip Kumar Roy, President of the Bhawaiya Parishad. The welcome address was delivered by Bhupati Bhushan Barma, General Secretary of the Bhawaiya Parishad and Director of the Bhawaiya Academy. The event, moderated by Bashir Ahmed, featured speeches from several individuals, including Shawkat Ali, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ulipur Police Station; Rajendranath Roy, founding president of the Bhawaiya Parishad; Harun-or-Rashid Lal, a valiant freedom fighter and Executive Director of ‘Solidarity’; noted litterateur and lyricist Towhidur Rahman; Mahbubur Rahman Momin, president of the Kasim Uddin Parishad; and Enamur Rahman, son of the land donor, Gelap Uddin. Representing the Bashundhara Group at the event were Khandaker Ekramul Haque Samrat, the Kurigram correspondent for Bangladesh Pratidin, and Humayun Kabir Surjo, the Kurigram correspondent for News24.
The speakers expressed their hope that the construction of this modern, multi-story building would further accelerate the practice of Bhawaiya music in Kurigram, providing artists of the new generation with a superior environment to hone their craft.
