Legendary lyricist Gazi Mazharul Anwar's 4th death anniversary today
Three patriotic songs feature among BBC’s all-time top 20
Today (4 September) marks the fourth death anniversary of legendary lyricist Gazi Mazharul Anwar, one of Bangladesh's most prolific songwriters.
He died on 4 September 2022 at the age of 79, after a career spanning more than five decades.
Mazharul Anwar wrote more than 20,000 songs during his career. Born on 22 February 1943 in what is now Cumilla, he began writing songs regularly for Radio Pakistan in 1964 and later contributed to Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the 1971 Liberation War.
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Three of his patriotic songs - "Joy Bangla Banglar Joy", "Ektara Tui Desher Katha Bol Re Ebar Bol" and "Ekbar Jete De Na Amar Chhotto Shonar Gae" - were ranked among the top 20 Bengali songs of all time in a BBC Bangla survey published in 2006.
His other popular songs include "Achhen Amar Moktar", "Ganer Khatay Shorolipi Likhe" and "Ei Mon Tomake Dilam".
Beyond songwriting, Mazharul Anwar directed and produced 41 feature films, including Nantu Ghatak and Churiwala.
He received the President's Gold Medal in 1972, the Ekushey Padak in 2002 and the Independence Award in 2021.
He also won the National Film Award for Best Lyricist a record six times.
