Lyricist Gobinda Halder dies at the age of 85

Gobinda Halder, who sang the music of Bangladesh's freedom in 1971, finally lost his battle for life on Saturday.

File photo shows President Md Adbul Hamid visiting ailing lyricist Gobinda Halder at a Kolkata hospital during his visit to India in December. File photo shows President Md Adbul Hamid visiting ailing lyricist Gobinda Halder at a Kolkata hospital during his visit to India in December.

Gobinda Halder (File Photo) Gobinda Halder (File Photo)

The 85-year-old lyricist passed away at a Kolkata hospital, Bangladesh Deputy High Commission's First Secretary Mofakkharul Iqbal told bdnews24.com.

Doctors at the Jitendra Nath Roy Hospital pronounced him dead at 10:20am, he said.

He was being treated at the hospital for old age and kidney complications for the last two months.

Bangladesh President Md Abdul Hamid, who had visited the ailing lyricist during his recent visit to India in December, expressed condolences over his death.

Gobinda Halder composed scores of immortal songs like `Mora Ekti Ful Ke Bachabo Bole Juddho Kori`, `Ek Sagor E Rokter Binimoye Banglar Swadhinata Anlo Jara`, `Purbo Digonte Surjo Utheche, Rokto Lal Rokto Lal`, and `Padma Meghna Jamuna, Tomar Amar Thikana`.

When Kamal Lohani was desperately looking for fresh inspiration lyrics on Swadhin Bangla Betar during the early months of the Liberation War, Halder turned up with two notebooks full of new songs.

They changed the music that accompanied the bitter war for independence of Bangladesh in 1971.