Folk singer Israt Jahan Jui wants to take the sounds and traditions of Bangla folk music to audiences around the world.
Alongside pursuing that ambition, she has recently achieved an academic milestone, securing the highest CGPA among all departments at her college in her postgraduate examination.
Jui has emerged as a familiar name among Bangladesh’s younger generation of folk singers. She performs regularly at home and abroad and continues to release original songs.
But her ambitions extend beyond stage performances, as she hopes to introduce the country’s rich folk heritage to music lovers across the globe.
“I have performed at many shows at home and abroad over the past few years and received love from audiences in different countries. But I have a much bigger dream: to travel around the world with Bangla folk music,” Jui said.
She has already performed in several countries, carrying what she describes as the music of her soil and roots. However, she wants to reach audiences in many more places and help them discover the depth of Bangladesh’s folk traditions.
“Bangla folk music is so rich that I want music lovers around the world to know about it. I am continuing to work towards making this dream come true. The rest is in Allah’s hands. I believe I will gradually move closer to my goal. I know there will be obstacles, but I do not want to stop,” she said.
Her journey has not been without difficulties. Jui has lost access to her regular Facebook page several times after it was hacked.
The same problem occurred again a few days ago, although she managed to recover the page after considerable effort.
She said she did not know who was behind the incidents but acknowledged that not everyone wished her well. Despite these setbacks, she remains determined to pursue her musical ambitions.
Alongside her performances, Jui has also made notable progress in her studies. She completed a four-year undergraduate course in folk music at Dhaka’s Music College, securing first place with first-class honours.
She recently completed the college’s one-year postgraduate programme, known as the Master of Music (M Music). With a CGPA of 3.70 out of 4.00, she achieved the highest result among all departments.
Meanwhile, Jui has released a new song, ‘Moner Bhetor Thaiko Tumi’, on her YouTube channel, Israt Jahan Jui. AB Babu wrote and composed the track.
For Jui, academic success and musical ambition are moving forward together as she continues working towards her dream of bringing Bangla folk music to a wider international audience.
