Members of one of Pakistan's most popular groups 'Jal (Water)' are now in Dhaka. They have come to sing at the 'Legend of the Decade' concert. On this occasion, the band's vocalist and popular actor Gauhar Mumtaz appeared in a press conference yesterday. He talked about band career, Atif Aslam's departure from the band, etc. Written by Masid Ron

Masid Ron: Today's concert has been postponed.

Gauhar Mumtaz: Yes. After making all kinds of preparations, if the concert is canceled at the last minute, it is heartbreaking. Also today (September 27) marks 20 years of our band's debut album 'Adaat'. It was supposed to be celebrated today at the 'Legend of the Decade' concert. But that too did not happen at the right time. In fact, we have no hand in natural events. It is not safe for anyone to hold a concert on an open stage on such a continuous rainy day. Keeping that in mind, the organizers have postponed today's concert. But I will not return without listening to the songs of my beloved fans in Dhaka. The new concert date will be announced this evening. Hope we all enjoy a great evening.

Masid Ron: How do you feel when you come to Dhaka?

Gauhar Mumtaz: After an age I came to Dhaka to sing. When I first came, I kept thinking, we sing in Urdu and everyone here speaks Bengali. How much will the audience here understand our song! But I was surprised every moment when I got on stage. Every line of every song in our band is memorized by them. That time I returned to Pakistan with a different experience.

This time too, it doesn't seem that I have come after so long because our band was not even a day away from the audience of Bangladesh. I think Bangladeshi fans are the cutest. They love us selflessly. Whenever we post any new song, video or social media, the first reaction we get is from Bangladesh. They constantly invite us through social media to sing in Bangladesh. Finally we have fulfilled their expectations.

Masid Ron: Two former members of the band 'Jal' Atif Aslam (one of the most popular artists in Bollywood and Pakistan) and Farhan Saeed (now a very popular actor in Pakistan). Did they have any problems leaving the band?

Gauhar Mumtaz: I wouldn't exactly call it a problem. But a kind of challenge is created. When you work with a structure it takes time to reorganize when it changes. The same happened with our band. After they left we faced the challenge of starting again in a new set-up. But since we have been singing most of the songs in a unified voice, the audience did not feel the lack of a particular person. It's been an age since they left and our band hasn't changed. We did a lot of new songs during this time. We are still alive because the audience likes them. We wouldn't have come this far as a band if the fans missed anyone. And as we do our old songs, so does Atif in his solo shows. I think the songs are getting more recognition by doing this.

Masid Ron: Don't you miss a singer like Atif Aslam in your band?

Gauhar Mumtaz: Honestly, I don't miss it. This happened 20 years ago, everyone knows the story of why he left the band. He wants to build his solo music career. And an artist has that freedom. What is the use of holding him back or missing the decision that will be good for him? But I still have a good relationship with him. We still talk about music. I have immense respect for him.

But I am not familiar with Atif because of the song. We studied in the same university. He was two years younger than me. I've been into songwriting, composition ever since. I composed the song 'Adaat' for the first time. But I was not so confident about the song. My friend also said what kind of song it is? But Atif liked my music. So they wanted to make music together. This is how we started our journey and got introduced to people.

Masid Ron: Your band's last album came out in 2013. Why didn't you make an album after that?

Gauhar Mumtaz: There is no album culture in Pakistan now. Everyone releases singles now. So we also released more than 15 singles in last 12-13 years. Besides, we are regularly making songs for Pakistani serials. Recently we did an entire album for the first full-length movie. Apart from me, artists like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Aima Baig have sung there.

But we get many requests to make albums from different places including India-Bangladesh. So now I have started working on a new album. Not yet announced in Pakistan. Since the fans of Bangladesh are very special to us, we announced our third album here. The name of the album is 'Barish'. I hope that next time I will be able to entertain you with the songs of this new album.

Masid Ron: Recently you made your debut as a hero…

Gauhar Mumtaz: Yes. I have acted in 6-7 serials before this. After mastering myself in acting, I went to the cinema. A few days ago my first movie 'Avi' was released. My co-star were stars like Kubra Khan, Hareem Farooq. The movie directed by Asad Mumtaz Malik was well liked by the audience.

Masid Ron: Pakistan has a political history with Bangladesh. How much do you know about the recent political changes in Bangladesh?

Gauhar Mumtaz: It's worth commenting on. I don't know as much as it is important to know. But the issue must have caught my eye through the headlines of Pakistani newspapers. But since I was very busy with the promotion of my first film, there was no time to think about anything outside of that. But I can say this, if you are satisfied with the changes that have come in this country, then the whole world is satisfied with it. It is applicable for any country. If the people of that country are good, it is good for the whole world.

Due to the ongoing quota reform movement, the entire country is now divided into two groups. One group is in favor of the movement and another group is in favor of the government. However, the artistic community of the country has always been free thinking. They speak for justice and without prejudice. In other words, since the purpose, belief and thinking of artists are the same, everyone should be of the same opinion in any situation.

But in the ongoing situation of the country, that is no longer the case. The artiste community was also divided into two groups. So far many stars have spoken against the rights of students and the violence against them. But no one is heard to say that these works are being done right. Not that some artists are still talking about this, but what happened today is clear that there is a difference of opinion in the artist community!

On the one hand, this morning in the capital's Farm gate area, despite the rain, popular stars and producers gathered to speak for the students. On the same day, another group of artists and stars visited BTV.

Due to the quota movement, these artists have suffered due to the massive fire incident in BTV. Many artists got emotional at the poor state of BTV from which they emerged as artists. Among them were legendary actress Sujata Azim, actor and present Member of Parliament Ferdous Ahmed, actor Riaz Ahmed, actress Nipun Akhtar, actor Azizul Hakim, actress Shomi Kaiser, Rokeya Prachi, Tanveen Sweety, Sohana Saba, Jyotika Jyoti, Swagta, Noona Afroz, Shamima. Tusti, producer and actress Hridi Haque, producer SA Haque Olik, Ekushey Medalist vocalist Subhradev and many artists from the entertainment world.

At that time, the placards of the artists' hands were written - 'Students and terrorists are not the same', 'Our children should not be a shield of violence', 'why is BTV vandalized? Who is behind it?

Earlier also famous cultural personalities Ramendu Majumder, Nasir Uddin Yusuf Bachchu, Sara Zaker, Piyush Banerjee, Golam Quddus, Jhuna Chowdhury, media personality Faridur Reza Sagar, Shaikh Siraj etc. visited BTV.

On the other hand, popular actress Ajmeri Haque Bandhan, Rafiat Rashid Mithila, Zakia Bari Mom, Nazia Haque Arsha, actor Musharraf Karim, cinematographer Siam Ahmed, filmmaker Amitabh Reza, Redwan Roni took a stand against the killing and torture of students at Farm gate.

It is true that the students did not take responsibility for the massive loss of state resources in the name of agitation. Most of the people believe that this incident happened in the conspiracy of another evil circle. 

Popular musician Shafin Ahmed passed away. Musician's brother Hamin Ahmed confirmed the matter to the media.

Meanwhile, in a post on social media, actor Ziaul Farooq Apurba wrote, 'Bangladesh band star Shafin Ahmed passed away while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Virginia. May Allah grant him Jannat.

The musician's brother Hamin Ahmed told the media, "Shafin had a massive heart attack." On July 20 he had a concert in Virginia. Shafin fell ill before the show. He canceled the show. He was admitted to the hospital that day. After that, when his various organs failed, he was taken on life support. After that, he could not be returned.

Shafin Ahmed's mother is Nazrul Sangeet superstar Feroza Begum and father is composer Kamal Dasgupta. Being born in this family, Shafin grew up in music from childhood. Just as he sometimes learned high-pitched music from his father, he also learned Nazrul music from his mother. After that due to study abroad he came in contact with the West and started his band music.

In 1979, one of the most popular bands in Bangladesh, 'Miles', was formed a few days after Shafin and Hamin joined it. After that, they presented many popular songs from Bangladesh. Shafin has many popular songs outside the band. 

Mehjabeen Chowdhury, the most popular actress of TV dramas, has also stood up against the ongoing violence against students with a strong voice. Highlighting the information of the Qur'an-Hadith today (Thursday) wrote a long text on the social handle. Mehjabeen Chowdhury's full text is presented here-

I have learned since childhood that family-society-state does not support raising hands on women. Our holy scriptures also never teach violence against women. It is said in the Holy Quran, "Be kind to women". It is said in the hadith, "The best of you are those who behave well with women".

But unfortunately, we have to see different pictures and shocking videos in the media or social media these days. Not one, not two, but countless of my sisters are being brutally attacked and bloodied. How cruel, what brutal! I will come to the topic of justice and injustice later, but I will say from my position: this violence against women cannot be accepted even on the pretext of the highest argument. 'No' means 'no'; not at all what did the students do? They were vocal about their rights. Quota reforms were demanded. So? Anyone can claim freedom in a democratic country. But raising hands on a woman, killing a promising young man like 'Abu Sayed' - does this fall under the level of civilization? Was there no other solution? Why do you have to shoot?

The situation may return to normal today or tomorrow. But the mother's chest is empty, the smile on the family's face is gone, can we fill that emptiness in exchange for something else? Not at all, history is a witness that no matter how great the power is, no one has ever achieved anything by overpowering the student society. So why this failed boom? We always cherish the great freedom war or our brave freedom fighters. We are proud that the brave freedom fighters sacrificed their lives to give us a free country. But in this country, one cannot express one's own feelings, one cannot demand rights, above all else, the identity of merit cannot be seen as the greatest, if you go against the wishes of the administration, you will be attacked and you will have to give your life prematurely - what is the dream of Bangladesh? Did you see our brave freedom fighters? I don't think so.

From rise in commodity prices, to question paper leaks to corruption - we remain silent on almost all issues. Even if the keeper becomes the eater, we sit in silence. Wait, maybe a solution will come. If not today, it will come in two days. On other issues we are not as vocal on social media. So why are you late? Why are common people like us condemning the action of the government regardless of party affiliation on the issue of quota reform? The reason is one; quota reform is the need of the hour. It is important to solve it as soon as possible. It should not be forgotten that we, the common people, clapped our hands with pride for many milestone achievements of the government including Metro Rail, Padma Bridge, Fly Over etc. I gave cheeky compliments. I joined social media. Surely, we will stand by the government again after the quota reform is done according to the demands of the students. I will cooperate with the government to solve all the problems of the country as a party. We will move the country forward together.

After all, students are the future of tomorrow. Mehjabeen Chowdhury appealed to the honorable Prime Minister and the Supreme Court to support their logical demands without suppressing them. I believe we will not be disappointed.

At the end of the post, the actress used the hashtag #SaveBangladeshiStudents. He added a collage of three photos of the ongoing movement.