Baul Sunil Karmakar passes away

The soulful voice of Netrokona has fallen silent. Renowned Baul artist Sunil Karmakar passed away on Friday morning after battling illness in the hospital for several days.

The news was confirmed by fellow artist Mukta Sarkar in an emotional social media tribute. "We are deeply saddened," she wrote. "Sunil Kaka could recognize me just by the sound of my voice; he used to call me 'Ma.' The countless songs we shared on the Palagan stage are now just memories. Rest in peace, gifted artist."

Sunil Karmakar had been associated with music since the age of just seven. With his rich and emotionally charged voice, he could single-handedly captivate any gathering. A versatile musician, he was proficient in playing multiple instruments, including the violin, dotara, tabla and harmonium.

Inspired by the songs of legendary Baul maestro Ustad Jalal Uddin Khan, Sunil Karmakar devoted himself to the world of music. Around that time, he permanently lost his eyesight. However, blindness did not hinder his journey. Born in Netrokona, Sunil Karmakar never once strayed from his musical pursuit despite losing his vision.

In addition, he was a prolific songwriter, having written an estimated 150 to nearly 200 songs.