Shahnaz Rahmatullah

Shahnaz Rahmatullah (; 2 January 1952 – 23 March 2019) was a Bangladeshi singer. Her notable songs are Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhay, Prothom Bangladesh Amar Sesh Bangladesh, Ekbar Jete De Na Amar Chotto Sonar Gaye, Je Chilo Drishtir Shimanay and Ek Tara Tui Desher Kotha. She was the recipient of the Ekushey Padak in 1992 and Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the film Chhutir Phande.

Background

Rahmatullah was born on 2 January 1952 as Shahnaz Begum in Dhaka to M Fazlul Haq and Asiya Haq. Actor Zafar Iqbal and music director Anwar Parvez were Rahmatullah's brothers. She was trained by ghazal maestro Mehedi Hassan, Ustad Phul Mohammad, Ustad Munir Hossain and Altaf Mahmud.

Rahmatullah was married to Maj (retd) Abul Bashar Rahmatullah.

Career Rahmatullah debuted in singing at the age of 11, as a playback singer for the film Notun Sur (1963). She mostly sang modern (Adhunik Gaan) and patriotic songs. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, she sang patriotic songs such as Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhe and Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan. She released an album with Samina Chowdhury called Megh Roddur on which she sang six songs composed by Shafiq Tuhin. She released four albums in total.

Pakistani journalist, Hamid Mir said, "Shahnaz Begum passed away in Bangladesh on March 23 when many Pakistanis were listening to her famous song Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhay on Pakistan Day."

Bhawal Sanyasi "Sokhi Amar Elo Mrigayay" Satya Saha Zia Haider Anjuman Ara Begum Daak Babu "Holud Baato, Mehndi Baato" Ali Hossain Mohammad Moniruzzaman chorus

Balyobondu "Pakhir Kakoli Theme Gelo" Anwaruddin Khan Amjad Hossain solo Saat Bhai Champa "O Saat Bhai Champa Jaago Re" Amir Ali Khan Ataur Rahman solo

"Ami Je Kebol Bolei Choli"

Mahmudun Nabi "Olira Gun Gun Gunguniye" solo Mukti "Tumi Asbe Ei Logone" Karim Shahbuddin Gazi Mazharul Anwar solo Naginir Prem "Bondhur Poth Cheye" Mansur Ahmed Nurul Islam Lal solo Patalpurir Rajkonya "Aji Patalpurite Uthal Pathal Uthechhe" Mansur Ahmed Nurul Islam Lal chorus Shaheed Titumir (Urdu) "Laaye Hain Husn Ka" Mansur Ahmed Fayyaz Hashmi Sabina Yasmin

Anka Banka "Anuraage Gaane Gaane" Altaf Mahmud Gazi Mazharul Anwar solo Bablu "Amar Chhotto Bhaiti" Karim Shahabuddin Gazi Mazharul Anwar solo Binimoy "Dekha Nei, Dekha Holo" Satya Saha Gazi Mazharul Anwar solo Ekoi Ange Eto Roop "Jibone Rong Chirodin Robe Na" Ali Hossain Mohammad Moniruzzaman solo

"Ami Gaanke Bhalobeschhi"

"Amar Koto Gaan Chhilo Je" "Tumi Saat Sagorer Opar Hote" Abdul Jabbar

"Adhare Alo Hoye" Bashir Ahmed Syed Shamsul Haque, Masud Karim, Shahidul Islam Bashir Ahmed Nupur "Laaj Laage Mor Sokhi" Karim Shahabuddin S. M. Hedayet Sabina Yasmin Peech Dhala Poth "Phooler Kaane Bhromor Ese" Robin Ghosh Mohammad Moniruzzaman solo Rong Bodlay "O Pakhi Re" Satya Saha Gazi Mazharul Anwar solo

Anowara "Allahumma Salli Aala Muhammad" Khandaker Nurul Alam Abdul Latif solo Bahram Badshah "Hay Hay Mori Joubon Jaala Re" Gazi Mazharul Anwar, M A Kashem, Osman Khan solo Ehsaas (Urdu) "Ruk Jao, Abhi Mat Jao" Robin Ghosh Ahmad Rushdi 1973 Abar Tora Manush Ho "Ek Nodi Rokto Periye" Khan Ataur Rahman Khan Ataur Rahman solo 1975 Aponjon "Slamalekum, Keno Eto Deri Holo?" Ali Hossain Gazi Mazharul Anwar Khurshid Alam 1977 Kuasha "Bondhu Amay Rekho Shudhu" Azad Rahman Gazi Mazharul Anwar, Jebunnisa Jamal, Ahmed Zaman Chowdhury Mahmudun Nabi 1980 Ghuddi "Ghum Ghum Chokhe" Lucky Akhand Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury solo 1983 Sakkhi "Parina Bhule Jete" "Je Chhilo Drishtir Simanay" Alauddin Ali Nazrul Islam Babu solo

Awards President's Pride of Performance Medal (1965) Ekushey Padak (1992) Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (1990) Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award Bangladesh Chalachitra Sangbadik Samity Award