Farida Parveen’s song ends, her legacy lives on

The voice of Farida Parveen is inseparable from the timeless resonance of Lalon's philosophy. Songs such as 'Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi', 'Milon Hobe Koto Dine', and 'Ami Opar Hoye Bose Achi' not only established her reputation as the "Queen of Lalon Geeti" but also secured her place as one of Bangladesh's most cherished cultural icons.

On 13 September 2025, Farida Parveen passed away at the Universal Medical College Hospital in Dhaka's Mohakhali at the age of 71. She breathed her last at 10:15 pm while undergoing treatment, confirmed Dr Ashis Kumar Chakraborty, the hospital's managing director.

Parveen had been admitted to the hospital on 2 September for routine dialysis but was later transferred to the intensive care unit as her condition deteriorated. According to her family, she had been on life support since 10 September, battling multi-organ failure after years of kidney complications.

Despite the efforts of medical teams and the formation of specialist boards, her condition could not be stabilised. Over the past six months, she had been admitted to intensive care several times as her health declined.

Tributes have poured in since her passing, underscoring the depth of her influence.

"Farida Parveen was younger than me in age, but as a singer, she was of a much greater stature and spirit. Her greatest work or achievement was her significant role in making Lalon's songs known and popular," reflected Syed Abdul Hadi, singer.

"Not only in Bangladesh, but she also worked with utmost sincerity to spread Lalon's songs on the international stage. It is for being this ambassador of Lalon's songs that she will remain immortal in the hearts of music lovers," he added.

Born on 31 December 1954 in Kushtia, Farida Parveen's musical journey began in 1968 as a listed singer with Rajshahi Betar, where she performed Nazrul songs. Recognition came in 1973 through her renditions of patriotic songs, and soon after, she trained in Lalon music under Moksed Ali Shah. What began as devotion to a form of folk expression gradually transformed into a lifelong calling, with Parveen emerging as its most prominent modern interpreter.

What Farida Parveen has left behind through her music is incomparable, and it will remain so. She was able to prove her worth in her field of work. The name of Lalon's songs is inseparable from the presence of Farida Parveen. To seek Lalon is also to find Farida Parveen. In the musical arena of Bangladesh, she transformed herself into a precious diamond. I pray for peace to her soul, and I believe Farida will live on in Lalon's songs.

Ferdous Wahid, singer

Though she sang Nazrul and contemporary songs with equal skill, it was her Lalon renditions that defined her career. Her voice carried the mystic's teachings with both melody and meaning, lifting his philosophy beyond local confines to international stages. She performed Lalon songs all over the world, which earned her the admiration of audiences far removed from her homeland.

"Farida Parveen and I were almost the same age. She sang Lalon's songs with her heart. As a singer, she was very responsible. She had been unwell for quite some time. I thought she would recover and return to music again, but that return never came. I pray for the forgiveness of her soul," said Sabina Yasmin, another luminary of Bangladeshi music.

Farida Parveen's career brought her numerous accolades. She received the Ekushey Padak in 1987, one of Bangladesh's highest civilian honours, for her contributions to music. She was awarded the National Film Award as Best Female Singer in 1993 for the song 'Nindar Kata' from the film 'Ondho Prem'. International recognition followed in 2008, when she received Japan's prestigious 'Fukuoka Prize'.

Her personal life, like her music, was deeply intertwined with artistry. Her first husband, Abu Zafar, was a noted lyricist and singer, best known for the patriotic anthem 'Ei Padma Ei Meghna'. From their marriage, she had three sons and a daughter: Zihan Faria, Imam Nimeri Upal, Imam Nahil, and Imam Zafar Numanee. She later married the popular flautist Gazi Abdul Hakim, further embedding her life within Bangladesh's musical fabric.

Ferdous Wahid shared, "What Farida Parveen has left behind through her music is incomparable, and it will remain so. She was able to prove her worth in her field of work. The name of Lalon's songs is inseparable from the presence of Farida Parveen. To seek Lalon is also to find Farida Parveen. In the musical arena of Bangladesh, she transformed herself into a precious diamond. I pray for peace to her soul, and I believe Farida will live on in Lalon's songs."

National leaders also paid homage. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus wrote in his condolence message, "Although Farida Parveen sang Nazrul and various patriotic songs, she was known to listeners as the 'Lalonkonna'. For five decades, her renditions of Lalon Shai's songs touched people's hearts. Her music also brought a new dimension to the inner philosophy and worldview of our culture. Despite many adversities, Farida Parveen never distanced herself from music. Her passion for singing has inspired generations."

Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Cultural Affairs Adviser, described her passing as "an irreparable loss to the nation's musical arena," adding that "her artistry inspired generation after generation."

For over five decades, Farida Parveen's voice carried the essence of Bangladesh's mystic traditions. Her music transcended entertainment, offering instead a vision of cultural and spiritual continuity.

She will be remembered not only as a singer but as a cultural custodian whose legacy will endure in every note of Lalon's timeless songs.