Veteran vocalist Shammi Akhtar passed away on Tuesday. She was 62.
The singer breathed her last while being taken to the BIRDEM Hospital at 4:00 pm. Before arrival at the hospital she died, her husband, noted folk singer Akramul Islam said.
The hospital authorities confirmed her death on arrival. She was suffering from cancer. She is survived by her husband, a son and a daughter. In October last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave Tk 5 lakh for her treatment.
Shammi Akhtar was a playback singer and gave voice to 300 songs. She started taking musical lessons under the tutelage of Ustad Gaur Babu of Barisal. She made her film debut in "Oshikkhito" directed by Azizur Rahman. The film was released in 1980. The songs "Ami Jemon Achi Temon Robo" and "Dhaka Shohor Aisha Amar Asha Puraise" brought almost instant success for her. The songs were written by Gazi Mazharul Anwar and composed by Satya Saha.
A number of other popular songs of her include "Bidesh Giye Bondhu Tumi Amay Bhuilo Naa" and "Bhalobashle Shobar Shathe Ghor Badha Jai Naa," for which she won a National Film Award. In 1970 she sang her first radio song penned by Kazi Nazrul Islam, "E Ki Oporup Roop-E Ma Tomay."
