PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MINISTRY OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DESK

The centuries-old ramparts of Lalbagh Fort reverberated with the timeless strains of classical music on Wednesday evening, as the nation commemorated the 163rd birth anniversary of Ustad Allauddin Khan—one of the subcontinent’s most revered maestros and a pioneer who elevated South Asian classical music to international prominence.

Organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and managed by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the event transformed the historic Mughal fort into a confluence of heritage and harmony.

In a video message, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the evening, calling Allauddin Khan “a legendary figure who brought South Asian classical music to the world stage.” He described the setting as “a fitting tribute—where history itself seems to listen.”

Among those in attendance were Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, and Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

Speaking to the audience, Farooki reflected, “Ustad Allauddin Khan was not merely a musician—he was a philosophy, a vision that continues to inspire generations.”

Both Khan and Hasan also used the occasion to draw attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, expressing solidarity with the people of Palestine. Their remarks stirred the audience, who spontaneously joined in a chorus of “Free, free Palestine!”—a moment of shared conscience amid art and beauty.

The finale of the night belonged to Ustad Allauddin Khan’s great-grandson, Siraj Ali Khan—the evening’s most anticipated performer. “The sarod I’m playing tonight belonged to my great-grandfather,” he shared, holding up the century-and-a-half-old instrument before beginning his set.

The evening was gracefully hosted by legendary actor and director Afzal Hossain and television presenter Maria Fariha Upoma, who guided the audience through the night’s performances with warmth and wit.