Ekushey Padak laureate singer Papia Sarwar no more

Papia Sarwar, one of Bangladesh's most renowned and prolific Rabindra Sangeet artists and an Ekushey Padak laureate, has passed away. She breathed her last at 8:00 am on Thursday at a private hospital in Dhaka.

Her husband, Sarwar Alam, confirmed the matter. He said that the late artist's body will be kept at the BIRDEM mortuary today. Tomorrow, after the Jumma prayers, her Janaza will take place, and she will be laid to rest at the Banani graveyard.

Papia Sarwar's condition worsened last night, leading doctors to put her on ventilator support as her health continued to decline.

Papia Sarwar had been fighting cancer for several years. Last month, she was receiving treatment at a hospital in Dhaka's Bashundhara Residential Area before being admitted to a private hospital in Tejgaon, where she continued to receive medical care.

Despite the doctors' best efforts, the renowned artist succumbed to her illness. She passed away at the age of 72, leaving behind her husband and two children.

Papia Sarwar was born on November 21, 1952, in Barishal. A lifelong admirer of Rabindranath Tagore, she joined Chhayanaut in Class Six and later enrolled at the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA). Since 1967, she had been a registered artist for both radio and television. Additionally, she was a student in the Zoology Department at the University of Dhaka.

In 1973, Papia Sarwar traveled to India on a Government of India scholarship to pursue a degree in Rabindra Sangeet at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan. She became the first Bangladeshi to complete this degree after the country's independence. Prior to that, she trained in music at Chhayanaut under Wahidul Haque, Sanjida Khatun, and Zahedur Rahim.

Her debut album, 'Papia Sarwar', was released in 1982. Known for her distinctive voice and style, she earned widespread acclaim for her renditions of Rabindra Sangeet and her success in modern Bangla songs, including the hit "Nai Telephone Nai Re Pion Nai Re Telegram." Papia was selective in her song choices, leading to a smaller discography. Her last album, Akashpane Hath Baralam, came out in 2013.

Papia Sarwar was honored with the Rabindra Award in 2013, the Bangla Academy Fellowship in 2015, and the Ekushey Padak in 2021 for her exceptional contributions to music.