Shahnaz Begum of Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan fame passes away
67-year-old singer's career spanned five decades, encompassed a number of genres.PHOTO COURTESY: AL JAZEERA
Renowned singer Shahnaz Begum, who sang hit patriotic songs including Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhe and Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan, passed away in Bangladesh at the age of 67 on Sunday.
Shahnaz Begum, born in Dhaka in 1952, also sang in Bangladeshi and Pakistani films.
She suffered heart attack, which proved fatal, according to media reports. She is the recipient of the Ekushey Padak in 1992 and Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the film Chhutir Phande (1990).
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The 67-year-old singer's career spanned five decades and encompassed a number of genres, particularly national songs. She had retired from professional singing about seven years ago and died at her Baridhara residence in the Bangladeshi capital.
In 2006, Shahnaz's four songs were ranked on BBC's list of top 20 greatest Bengali songs of all time. The first funeral prayers were held at the Park Mosque in Baridhara. She left behind the husband, a son and a daughter.
Tributes from Pakistan and Bangladesh poured in on social media remembering her as a "gifted singer" and the "voice of the nation".
With additional input from Al Jazeera