'Ei Padma Ei Meghna' lyricist Abu Zafar no more

Lyricist, composer, and renowned Islamic thinker Abu Zafar, the creator of numerous timeless songs such as 'Ei Padma Ei Meghna' and 'Tomra Bhulei Gecho Mallikadir Naam', is no more.

He passed away at 3:30am on Friday (6 December) while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 82, said his daughter Jihan Faria.

Abu Zafar will be laid to rest at Kushtia Municipal Graveyard following his Namaz-e-Janaza at the Kushtia Government College field after Asr prayers.

The father of two sons and one daughter, Abu Zafar, had been suffering from various age-related physical complications for some time. He was a lyricist, composer, poet, and musician all at once.

Abu Zafar was born on May 15, 1943, in Kanchanpur village of Gorher Bari under Chandpur Union in Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia district. He was a regular musician and lyricist for Rajshahi and Dhaka Betar (radio) as well as Bangladesh Television.

His professional career spanned academia, where he served as a professor of Bengali at Chuadanga Government College and Kushtia Government College. He retired from teaching in 2000.

Abu Zafar's patriotic and modern songs stirred the hearts of millions. His creations like 'Ei Padma Ei Meghna,' 'Tomra Bhulei Gecho Mallikadir Naam,' and 'Nindar Kata Jodi Na Bidhilo Gaaye' remain timeless. He also authored several books, including 'Notun Raatri Purono Din' (poetry), 'Bazare Durnam Tobu Tumi Sarbosso' (poetry), 'Biplobotter Soviet Kobita' (translated poetry), and 'Tumi Raat Ami Raatjaga Pakhi.'

Among his famous works, 'Ei Padma Ei Meghna' was recognised as one of the top 20 greatest songs of all time in a BBC survey. Abu Zafar not only wrote and composed these masterpieces but also sang most of them himself. He occasionally performed duets with his ex-wife, the renowned Lalon singer Farida Parveen.