Eminent folk singer Farida Parveen, revered as the “Queen of Lalon Geeti,” passed away in Dhaka on Saturday night. She was 70.
Parveen had been battling kidney complications for years and underwent regular dialysis. Earlier this week her condition worsened, and she was admitted to Universal Medical College Hospital. Physicians confirmed she died at around 10:15 pm on 13 September while receiving intensive care.
Born in Kushtia in 1955, Parveen began her musical training in classical and Nazrul songs before turning to the works of Baul saint Lalon Fakir. Over the decades, her powerful voice made her the foremost interpreter of Lalon Geeti, bringing folk mysticism from village akhras to national stages and international audiences. She was credited with safeguarding an oral tradition and giving it modern reach without losing its depth.
Her career was marked by numerous accolades. She received the Ekushey Padak, one of Bangladesh’s highest civilian honours, for her contribution to music, along with multiple national and international awards that recognised her role in cultural preservation.
News of her death prompted an outpouring of grief from across the country. Cultural organisations, artists, and admirers paid tribute to her singular role in carrying Lalon’s songs into the public consciousness. Officials described her passing as an irreparable loss to the nation’s cultural heritage.
Funeral prayers were held in Dhaka, including tributes at the Central Shaheed Minar, before her body was transported to Kushtia. She was laid to rest beside her parents in her home district, the very heartland of Lalon’s legacy.
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