Home
+
Published : 01 Apr 2026, 10:48 PM
Dalia Nausheen, a singer of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra who won the Ekushey Padak, has died of cancer at the age of 71.
The acclaimed Nazrul Sangeet singer, who had been battling cancer, breathed her last at a private hospital in Dhaka around 1pm on Wednesday, her family said.
She was hospitalised on Mar 27 after her condition deteriorated.
Her funeral was held at the Gulshan Society Mosque following Maghrib prayers, and she was later laid to rest at the Banani graveyard.
Dalia, the daughter of the renowned architect Mazharul Islam, was a celebrated "voice warrior" of the 1971 Liberation War.
At just 14, she joined the Bangladesh Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha in Kolkata, travelling across refugee camps and battlefronts to boost the morale of freedom fighters through patriotic songs.
In 2020, Bangladesh government conferred the Ekushey Padak, the state's second-highest civilian award, upon her for her lifelong contribution to music.
Cultural organisations and fellow artistes have expressed deep shock at her passing.
Nazrul Sangeet exponent Khairul Anam Shakil told bdnews24.com: “She had been ill for several days. I visited her in the ICU on Tuesday. Her passing is a great loss to our musical heritage.”
Dalia’s musical journey began at the age of five.
After the war, she completed a five-year course at Chhayanaut in 1973 and later joined the iconic institution as a teacher.
She was a Special Grade artiste for both Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, representing the country at numerous international events.
In a condolence message, the Bangladesh Ganasangeet Samannay Parishad recalled her bravery during 1971.
“During the Liberation War, Dalia travelled to different camps with the Bangladesh Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha to perform music to boost the morale of the freedom fighters.”
She urged everyone to be dedicated to the Liberation War, it said.
