Tomorrow marks the fourth death anniversary of the noted Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra singer Bipul Bhattacharya. He inspired the masses for the independence through his singing at Swadhin Bangla Betar during 1971. He used to travel and sing only at the age of 16 to inspire the freedom fighters in 1971. The songs ignited the patriotic sentiments of the common people as well as the soldiers on the battlefield.
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra radio broadcasting centre established by the Bangladesh government in exile soon after the declaration of the war of liberation. The Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, in fact, evolved from the Kalurghat transmission centre. The Kalurghat radio centre was abandoned when it was heavily shelled by the Pakistan Air Force on March 30. The centre, however, resumed its second phase of activities from 3 April 1971 at Bagafa with a short wave transmitter. The centre was later shifted to Shalbagan and Bagafa-Belonia Forest Hills Road, Agartala. The key person in organising the centre in its early stage was Belal Muhammad, a scriptwriter and artiste of Radio Pakistan. Several other liberation activists who joined later included Abdullah-Al-Faruque, Abul Kashem Sandwip, Kazi Habibuddin Ahmed Moni, Aminur Rahman, Rashidul Hussain, A M Sharfuzzaman, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Syed Abdus Shaker, and Mustafa Monwar. The damaged transmitter that they brought with them from Kalurghat was made operative by engineer Syed Abdus Shaker.
Bipul Bhattacharya led choruses of a huge number of songs that boosted the spirit of the freedom fighters of the Liberation War. Such songs include: 'Nao Chhariya Dey Paal Uraiya Dey,' 'Shonen Shonen Bhai Shobey Satyo E Je Ghotona,' 'Bolo Bolo Rey Bolo Shobey Bolo Rey Bangalir Joy,' 'Ei Na Bangladasher Gaan Gaitey Rey Amar Dukkhey Poran Kandey,' 'O Rey Bishom Doirar Dheu' and many more.
He was the lead vocalist of the troupe 'Bangladesh Mukti Shangrami Shilpi Shangstha', led by noted Tagore exponent Sanjida Khatun. The troupe's main intention was to raise funds for the guerrillas and alleviate the misery of the countless refugees who lived in camps set up in India.
Born in Sholakia of Kishoreganj in 1955, this vocal warrior was also an eminent folk artiste who achieved the first place in folk music category in all Pakistan music competition in 1970.
The writer is a freelance contributor.
