Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul passes away

Renowned musician and freedom fighter Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul is no more.

The lyricist and composer breathed his last in his Aftabnagar residence around 5:30am early Tuesday. He was 63.

Bulbul was declared dead at the Universal Medical College Hospital in the city.

Physician Ashis Kumar Chakraborty, managing director of the hospital, told Prothom Alo that Bulbul passed away due to a cardiac arrest.

"He was brought to the hospital around 6:15am. We think he died around one hour before his arrival in the hospital," he said.

Family members of Bulbul want him to be buried today, Tuesday, at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard.

"I request the prime minister to permit us so that we can bury him at the reserved section for the freedom fighters at the martyred intellectuals' graveyard in Mirpur," said Samir Ahmed, son of Bulbul.

Samir said his father had been ill for several months.

Bulbul made his debut in the film industry at the end of 1970s through 'Megh Bijli Badol'. He composed songs for more than 350 films.

He was the lyricist of most of these songs. He was also known for his remarkable patriotic songs. His contribution to the music industry earned him several awards including the Ekushey Padak, the National Film Award and the President's Award.

Noted artistes including Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila, Syed Abdul Hadi, Andrew Kishore, Samina Chowdhury, Khalid Hassan Milu, Kanak Chapa, James, Agun, Bappa Mazumder, among many others, sang in his music composition.

He was the music director in more than three hundred movies. He received the National Film Award two times for music.

Among his remarkable songs, 'Shob kota janala', 'Shundar shubarno tarunyo labonyo', and 'O majhi nao chhaira de' 'Sei rail line er dhare', 'Mago ar tomake ghumparani masi hote debo na', 'Amar sara deho kheyo go mati', 'Amar babar mukhe prothom jedin shunechhilam gaan', 'Amar gorur garite bou sajiye', 'Porey na chokher polok', 'Ak jonome bhalobese bhorbe na ei mon', 'Ekattorer ma jononi', 'Ananta prem tumi dao amake'.