Dhaka University’s campus came alive with music and emotion on the evening of November 19, as hundreds gathered for Sanjeeb Shondha: a cultural event organised by the Sanskritik Union (Dhaka University division) in honour of the late musician, journalist and political activist Sanjeeb Choudhury.
What unfolded was more than a tribute concert. It became a heartfelt gathering shaped by shared remembrance and the unifying power of art.
The event began around 5:00 pm at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), where the campus gradually transformed into a living archive of Sanjeeb’s legacy. This year’s line-up was as rich as ever, bringing together student bands, solo artists and established musicians. Each performer channeled Sanjeeb’s spirit in their own way.
The crowd cheered as Monk in a Mug, Parshworekha, Debojan and Anesthesia opened the evening with acoustic and semi-electric renditions of Sanjeeb’s classics, alongside their own songs. Audiences frequently joined in, singing along to well-loved lyrics.
Throughout the night, performers including Rahman Jony, Jayanta Pal Joy, Pallab Chakraborty, Firoza, Raiyan, Orthi Anjum, Rupok, Mushfiqur Rahman, Anik Chakma and Kyaw Thin brought their own interpretations to the stage. While each act added a distinctive flavour, their devotion to Sanjeeb’s message remained constant.
Singer-songwriters Faiza Fairuz Rimjhim, Anik Das, Sabbir Saheb, Lubdhok, Anindya Biswas, Farah Diva Tasnim, Surjo Palash, Joy Shahriar, Sayeem Joy, Akash Gayan, Tuhin Kanti Das and Yasin Arafat Rubel kept the momentum going.
Later in the evening, the performances of Shishir Da and Naveen Kishore Goswami drew some of the loudest applause, their seasoned voices bringing depth and nostalgia to the occasion.
Between sets, members of the Sanskritik Union shared reflections on Sanjeeb’s life: his activism, his commitment to the marginalised and the way his music captured the pulse of people and city alike. For many students, especially those who grew up listening to Dalchhut, the night felt like a bridge between generations.
A final ensemble performance turned the event into a communal chorus, with hundreds of students standing shoulder to shoulder, singing together in a moment of powerful harmony.
The evening of this special tribute stood not only as a celebration of an immortalised musician, but of his philosophy; one rooted in art as resistance, empathy and truth. For everyone present, it was a night that will remain etched in memory for years to come.
