Published : 11 Sep 2025, 04:08 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 01:47 PM
Acclaimed folk singer Farida Parveen has been put on life support as her condition worsened.
Her son Imam Nimeri said the doctors decided to put her on ventilation support on Wednesday afternoon after her health declined at the Universal Medical College and Hospital.
She had been transferred from intensive care with plans for cabin accommodation before the sudden deterioration.
Ashish Kumar Chakraborty, managing director of the hospital, said, “Farida has been placed on a ventilator, which is generally referred to as life support. She cannot breathe on her own, and her blood oxygen levels have dropped. Her blood pressure is untraceable even after administering three medications. We can’t predict how long this will last.”
He added, “If her blood pressure increases, there might be hope. If not, her heart could stop, which is what we call a heart attack, and at that point, there will be nothing we can do.”
Farida, 71, has long struggled with health issues, including kidney problems and diabetes. She is undergoing regular dialysis. After a two-week hospital stay, she returned home on Jul 21, recovering under strict medical guidance. However, on Sept 2, she had to be hospitalised again, marking her third hospitalisation this year.
In February, she was hospitalised for 13 days due to breathing difficulties. She was admitted to the ICU again on Jul 5, when she was visited by BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and called for a medical board to be formed.
Subsequently, a board was formed, and she received medical treatment.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also inquired about Farida’s treatment at that time.
Starting her musical journey with Nazrul songs and patriotic music, Farida later immersed herself in Lalon’s songs, becoming a lifelong devotee of Lalon Giti. In recognition of her contributions to music, she received the Ekushey Padak in 1987 and the Fukuoka Asian Culture Award from the Japanese government in 2008.
She also has several tracks for films, winning the National Film Award for Best Playback Singer in 1993.
To preserve Lalon's music across generations, she established the Achin Pakhi Music Academy 16 years ago. However, due to her health issues, the academy is struggling to stay afloat, with its expenses outweighing its income and lacking a permanent building.
