Legend departs stage with unhappy ending

Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra singer Abdul Jabbar had a dream of releasing an album with songs on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, but he could not finish it. The legendary singer died of multi-organ failure at a city hospital on August 30 this year before his dream came true.

Quoting lyricist Amirul Islam, BSS said that the valiant freedom fighter and preeminent singer, Abdul Jabber, expressed his desire of releasing an album of songs on Bangabandhu and suggested him to write the songs. "Jabbar gave voice to my song 'Bangladesher Hridoy Tumi/ Tumi Banglar Mita, Amra Sabai Ekti Jati/ Tumi Jatir Pita' and he liked it most," English Lecturer at HR Memorial College and a promising lyrist Amirul Islam said, adding that Jabber suggested him to write some songs on Bangabandhu.

"As per the singer's direction, I composed another song 'Bangabandhu Dekhechi Tumay Dekhechi Muktijuddho/ Hayenader Tumi Tariye Diye Korecho Mati Shuddho'," Islam said and added that Jabber was supposed to give voice to this song in May last.

But the singer fell sick before giving voice to the song, Islam said. He said lying on the hospital bed, Jabbar asked him for several times to write songs on Bangabandhu, saying: "Please write some songs on Bangabandhu. I would like to release an album only on Bangabandhu".

"Amirul, I will get cured soon and sing your second song on my father (Bangabandhu). I will also release an album with your songs written on my father (Bangabandhu)," Islam quoted Jabber as telling him at the hospital and said that the valiant freedom fighter used to call Bangabandhu 'father'.

But the singer could not fulfill his dream as he lost the fight against death, Islam added. Mentioning Jabbar's love for Bangabandhu, his elder son Mithun Jabbar said that his father used to say very often, "I have lost my father (Bangabandhu), but I still I uphold him in my heart".

Lyrist Amirul Islam said Jabbar has only one album in his 50-year career as a singer which proves that he was not a commercial singer. The name of Jabbar's only album is "Kothay Amar Neel Dariya".

-AA News Desk