Ustad Mihir Lala passes away at 84

The celebrated singer from the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra passes away on his way to a hospital in Chattogram

Ustad Mihir Lala, a classical musician and a celebrated singer from the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, has died at the age of 84.

He passed away on his way to a private hospital in Chattogram around 8am on Saturday.

The singer’s son Sumon Lala said his father was unwell for a long time. He was rushed to a hospital after his condition deteriorated in the morning where the doctors said he died of a heart disease.

He leaves behind his wife, Nazrul Sangeet singer Jayanti Lala, a son and a daughter.

Mihir was a famed classical musician and trained numerous singers under his guidance. The singer who spent over 50 years with music started his musical journey as a disciple of Ustad Abu Bakr Siddiqui. He learnt classical from many revered music maestros afterwards.

Born in 1941 in Cox’s Bazar, Mihir spent his childhood in Chattogram’s Boalkhali Upazila. He was the third of eight children born to Advocate Chandra Vinod Lala and Kuldabala Lala.

He contributed to the Liberation War as a vocalist of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy accorded special honour to him in 2018.

Mihir served as the principal of ‘Arjya Sangeet Samiti’, a traditional music academy, and ‘Surendra Sangeet Bidyapeeth’ until his passing.

He was accorded state honours at the port city’s JM Sen Hall premises around 11:30am. His cremation was held in the city’s Baluar Dighi Moha Shamshan in the afternoon.