Legendary Lalon singer Farida Parveen has been suffering from long-term illness and is currently battling between life and death.
She has been admitted to the ICU at Universal Hospital in the capital.
The hospital’s official, CF Zaman, told Times of Bangladesh on Tuesday afternoon that kidneys and several other organs of Farida Parveen are not functioning properly.
She has suffered a brain hemorrhage. She is currently under the care of Brigadier General Dr Delwar Hossain in the ICU.
“We are keeping her under close observation, and she may need to be placed on life support at any moment.
The artist’s husband, Gazi Abdul Hakim, said, “Due to breathing difficulties, she has been admitted to the ICU three times before, including for 13 days in February. Currently, she is undergoing dialysis. However, she has become more ill recently. I ask the people of the country to pray for her.”
He further stated, “We want to take Farida for advanced treatment, either in the country or abroad. For this, we will need the government’s help. However, this does not mean that we are seeking financial assistance.”
Farida Parveen is primarily known for her renditions of Nazrul and patriotic songs, but she gained particular fame for her performances of Lalon songs.
She received training from the revered Fakir Moksed Ali Shah. She was honoured with the Ekushey Padak in 1987, the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize in 2008, and the National Film Award as Best Playback Singer in 1993.
Having been involved in the practice and promotion of Lalon music for nearly five decades, Farida Parveen established the “Achin Pakhi Music Academy” 16 years ago.
However, due to her illness, financial difficulties, and the lack of a permanent building for the academy, the institution is currently struggling to survive.