The 93rd birth anniversary of the eminent folk singer of the sub-continent Abdul Alim will be celebrated today.

Different socio-cultural organisations will observe the day with various programmes. TV channels will air special programmes to mark the folk maestro’s birth anniversary.

Abdul Alim was born on 27 July  1931, at Talibpur village in Murshidabad, West Bengal of British India. He migrated from Murshidabad to Dhaka after the partition of India in 1947 and joined the Dhaka Radio Station as a staff artiste. In Dhaka, he took lessons from Mumtaz Ali Khan and Mohammed Hossain Khosru.

He became a household name singing songs, namely “Allah Megh De Pani De”, “O Padma Nadire”, “Ar Kotokal Bhasbo Ami” and others.

Abdul Alim recorded over 300 Gramophone records. He sang playbacks in over 100 films. He also recorded songs for “Mukh O Mukhosh”, the first film produced in erstwhile East Pakistan.

Abdul Alim’s popular songs are Porer Jayga Porer Jomi, Ei Je Duniya, Mukhe Allah, Duare Aishache Palki, Amare Sajaiya, Mone Boro Asha, Naiyare Nayer Badam Tuila and Tor Chokh Theke Tui Ondho.

He was posthumously awarded the Ekushey Padak in 1977 and the Independence Award in 1997 for his outstanding contribution to the folk song.   

The legendary folk singer breathed his last on 5 September 1974.