Thousands of fans pay last respects to singer Ayub Bachchu

Anik, a shopkeeper from Lakshmibazar, stood dejected with flowers in hand. The 18-year-old was among the thousands of fans who queued at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka to pay their last respects to the legendary singer Ayub Bachchu, who died of heart attack on Thursday.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 19 Oct 2018, 05:28 AM
Updated : 19 Oct 2018, 05:06 PM

“I couldn’t hold back tears when I heard the news. I attended his concert just few days back at the Muslim School premises and took a photo with him. I can’t accept his sudden departure,” Anik told bdnews24.com.

Kaushik, an official in Meenabazar’s Business Development, also queued with roses in hand. He was in a T-shirt with the portrait of Ayub Bachchu embossed on it.

“Ayub Bachchu was popular among three generations. My mother loves his music, so do I. My daughter loves his songs too. It’s a big shock to all of us that he has left,” Kaushik told bdnews24.com.

“We were lucky to enjoy loads of his contribution to music but it is unfortunate that my daughter is going to miss it. I pray for him that he remains well wherever he is now.”

Thousands of fans paying their last tributes to Ayub Bachchu, who popularised rock mucic in Bangladesh, at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Friday. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove

The remains of Bachchu were taken to the Shaheed Minar on Friday morning for fans, fellow musicians and artistes and cultural activists to pay tribute.

Later, his body was taken to Eidgah Maidan, where namaz-e-janaza was held after Jummah prayers.

The artist will be laid to rest beside his mother on Saturday after another namaz-e-janaza in Chattogram, his birthplace.

The mortal remains of Ayub Bachchu is being taken to the National Eidgah ground from the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka for Namaz-e-Janaza on Friday. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor could not hold back his tears as he came to pay his tribute to Bachchu. His fans recalled his wonderful creations and his lifelong dedication to music.

“He elevated the level of the band music. I believe the new generation will follow his ideology,” said AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader who came to pay tribute on behalf of his party.

“We know that he used to begin all concerts with the national anthem,” Quader said.

Fellow musicians and other cultural personalities also talked about Bachchu’s works.

“Bachchu Bhai was older than us but he was an evergreen person. He poured out all his love for band music,” said Tanzir Tuhin, former vocal artist of the band Shironamhin.

“He was diligent and passionate when it came to his music. He was an institution. He was the one and only Ayub Bachchu among the 160 million people in the country,” said Fuad Naser Babu of Feedback Band.

“I have been working with him since the 80s. I have a long train of memories flashing back one by one. He has left when he was at the peak of his musical journey and his fame. It is quite evident with these thousands of people streaming in to pay their respects,” said Sumona Haque, a famed singer and jingle artist with tears in her eyes. 

People from all walks of life paying their final tributes to singer-guitarist Ayub Bachchu at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Friday. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove

Fellow musicians Rabi Chowdhury, Kumar Bishawjit, Safin Ahmed, Nakib Khan, Nasim Ali Khan, Tapan Chowdhury paid their respects to Bachchu.

“Bachchu was our childhood friend. He was the music director for my first album. I hope his music lives on to the future generations,” said Nasim Ali Khan.

“I was reassured of people’s love for Bachchu after coming here. May his soul rest in peace,” said singer Tapan Chowdhury.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Muhammed Samad paid his respects to the musician. “Ayub Bachchu is a star in the arena of band music. He had immense love for the country and its people and honour for the Liberation War.

The beloved musician, who popularised rock music in Bangladesh alongside his band LRB, died at the age of 56.

The singer, guitarist, lyricist and composer was a founding member of the band LRB (Love Runs Blind).

Ayub Bachchu, also known as AB to his fans, carved out a legendary position in the history of Bangladesh’s band music.

In addition to his extraordinary role in rock music as a singer and composer, Bachchu was one of the leading guitarists in the country. He was also well-known for his distinctive style and the flamboyant look of his guitars, which captivated audiences for over four decades.

The mortal remains of Ayub Bachchu is being taken to the National Eidgah ground from the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka for Namaz-e-Janaza on Friday. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove

On Aug 16, his birthday, Bachchu told bdnews24.com that his greatest achievement was being able to make his fans happy and earn their love. He also said he was planning to write a memoir.

“I’ll begin the work after the Eid. I’ll go somewhere outside Dhaka, where there are no phones and no internet. I will go where I can eat fish freshly caught in the river, eat rice and drink water. I’ll come back to Dhaka after the work is finished.”

There is still a long way to go, Bachchu had told bdnews24.com that day.

‘Ayub Bachchu was born in Chattogram in 1962. In an interview Bachchu said he always loved music and became a singer through ‘trial and error’ during his early years. He fell in love with the western music and began to play guitar. He drew inspiration from the guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Joe Satriani and Steve Moore. While in college he formed a band in college named ‘Ugly Boys’. They performed at neighbourhood programmes.

Thousands of people take part in the Namaz-e-Janaza for legendary singer-guitarist Ayub Bachchu at the National Eidgah ground on Friday. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove

As a professional, he joined the band Feelings in 1978 and then worked with Souls in 1980. After playing with them for 10 years, he formed LRB or Love Runs Blind from “the deepest of his impulses” in 1991.

LRB started playing live gigs in the following years and ushered in a new chapter in the history of music in Bangladesh. With its eagerness to create something revolutionary, LRB debuted with a double album in 1992.

Bachchu’s band performed more than 500 open-air and about 2,000 indoor concerts at home and abroad, according to its website.

His first show outside Bangladesh was held in India in 1997. LRB is the only Bangla rock band to perform at the Madison Square Garden in New York. Bachchu performed in seven states during his tour of the United States in 1998, according to the LRB website.

His songs ‘Cholo Bodle Jai’, ‘Ferari Ei Monta Amar’, ‘Ami Koshto Pete Bhalobashi’, ‘Ekdin Ghumbhanga Shohore’, ‘Ekhon Onek Raat’, ‘Hashte Dekho Gaite Dekho’, and many others – will linger in the hearts of his fans.