Mustafa Zaman Abbasi passes away at 87

Mustafa Zaman Abbasi, a prominent Bangladeshi musicologist, author, and cultural figure, passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 87.

He died at 5:30am at a hospital in Banani, Dhaka, following complications related to age and breathing issues, his daughter Sharmin Abbasi confirmed.

Born on December 8, 1937, in Cooch Bihar, West Bengal, Abbasi hailed from a distinguished musical family. He was the son of legendary folk singer Abbas Uddin Ahmed and contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of Bengali folk music over a career spanning decades.

Abbasi held degrees from the University of Dhaka and studied marketing under the Harvard Group. He served as Director General of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, led numerous television and radio programmes, and was an active voice in international cultural forums, including the International Folk Music Conference in Seoul.

He also served as President of the Bangladesh National Committee of Music under UNESCO for 11 years and directed the Folk Music Research Group for over 50 years, preserving thousands of rare Bengali songs. His extensive body of work includes over 20 books, such as 'History of Folk Music' and 'Bhater Desher Bhatiali', and editorial contributions to anthologies and journals.

Abbasi was the recipient of multiple national honours, including the Ekushey Padak, Shilpakala Academy Award, and the Nazrul Academy Award.