Singer Jewel passes away at 56

Jewel, a popular television producer and singer from the 90s, had been battling cancer for many years

Hassan Abidur Reja Jewel, a popular television producer and singer from the nineties, has died at the age of 56.

The singer passed away at 11:53am at Dhaka’s United Hospital on Tuesday, his middle sibling Mohibul Reja Rubel said.

Jewel had been hospitalised with respiratory distress on the evening of Jul 23. He was put on ventilator support at the hospital.

“The singer will be buried at the capital’s Banani graveyard after his funeral following the Asr prayers at Gulshan Central Masjid,” Rubel said.

Jewel had been battling cancer for many years. He received treatment at various hospitals in the country and abroad.

Besides singing, he was a well-known producer, director, event manager and anchor.

The singer’s first solo album ‘Kuasha Prohor’ was released in 1993.

His other key albums are ‘Ek Bikele’ (1994), ‘Amar Ache Ondhokar’ (1995), ‘Ekti Manush’ (1996), ‘Beshi Kichu Noy’ (1998), ‘Bedona Shudhui Bedona’ (1999), ‘Firti Pothe’ (2003), ‘Dorja Khola Bari’ (2009) and ‘Emon Holo Koi’ (2017).

Among Jewel’s 10 solo albums, ‘Ek Bikele’ was the most popular. After the album's release, he became known as ‘Ek Bikeler Jewel’.