Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury

Bulbul Chowdhury (1 January 1919 – 17 May 1954), real name Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury, was a Bengali dancer of British India, and later East Pakistan. He is primarily regarded as a pioneer of modern dance in Bangladesh, as a founding figure of dance among the conservative Muslim community.

Early life and education Chowdhury was born in Chunati village Under Satkania Upazila in what is now Lohagara Upazila, Chittagong, on 1 January 1919. His father, Mohammed Azamullah, was an inspector (later promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police) in the then Bengal Police Service during British Reign. His maternal grandfather, Munshi Fazar Ali Dewan, was a lawyer of Calcutta High Court who also practiced at Chittagong. By situating dance as part of the Mughal tradition, he challenged conservative Muslim attitudes towards dance, and helped in making dance gain social respectability and popularity. BAFA is also known as Bulbul Lalitakala Academy. It is an institution of fine arts that was established in popularizing dance among conservative Bengali Muslims. Afroza wrote Sundor Ei Prithibi Amar, a memoir on Chowdhury.

Chowdhury was honored posthumously with Pride of Performance award by the Pakistan government in 1959 and Independence Day Award by the Bangladesh government in 1984.