Photo: Collected
Shwadhin Bangla Betar Kendra-famed legendary singer, composer, and music director Shujeyo Shyam passed away on Thursday night at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the capital, at the age of 78.
The eminent artist breathed his last around 2:50 am, his daughter Rupa Manjuri Shyam confirmed to the media.
His body has been taken to Dhakeshwari temple in the capital for public homage. After that, his last rites will be performed at SabujBagh Baradeshwari Crematorium in the capital.
Shujeyo Shyam was battling cancer and other health issues including high diabetes and kidney problems. According to his daughter, he got an infection after a pacemaker was implanted in his heart last September.
He was admitted to BSMMU last September 24. At that time, he was being treated in the CCU as there were no beds available in the ICU.
A four-times Bangladesh National Film Award winner for Best Music Director, Shujeyo Shyam is revered for composing the final song for Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the 1971 liberation war and the maiden song following the surrender of the Pakistani occupation forces.
The song was "Bijoy Nishan Urche Oi" which was written by lyricist Shahidul Amin and voiced by Ajit Roy; and in total, nine of his songs for Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra were sung from June to December 1971.
Some of his notable compositions include "Rokto Diye Naam Likhechi," "Rokto Chai Rokto Chai," "Aha Dhonno Amar Jonmobhumi," and "Ayre Chashi Mojur Kuli," among many others.
Born on March 14, 1946, in Sylhet, Shujeyo Shyam received Ekushey Padak in 2018 from the Government of Bangladesh and Shilpakala Padak in 2015 from Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).
He received the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Music Director four times for the films Hason Raja (2002), Joyjatra (2004), Obujh Bou (2010) and Joiboti Konyar Mon (2021).
Five shot in clash at Ukhiya Rohingya Camp
Five people, including a local resident, were shot during a clash between two groups at a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya of Cox's Bazar on Thursday.
Gunfire erupted throughout the day in camps 14 and 15, resulting in at least 10 people sustaining injuries. Amir Jafar, commander of APBN-8 (Additional DIG), confirmed the matter.
The injured individuals are identified as Mohammad Belal (39) from Palangkhali, Ukhiya; Omar Faruk (30), son of Hossain, a resident of block D-7 in camp 15, Jamtoli; Mohammad Yunus (25), son of Abdur Rashid, a resident of block B-3 in the same camp; Abdullah (18), son of Mohammad Alser, a resident of block C-2 in camp 11, Ukhiya; and Hamida (50), daughter of Abdul Goni, from the same camp.
The APBN official said that the clash, driven by disputes, led to five people being shot. The injured are currently receiving treatment at the MSF Hospital in Kutupalong, Ukhiya.
The identity of those responsible remains unknown.
Multiple sources suggest that ARSA has been attempting to reorganise in the camp since August 5, frequently clashing with RSO for control over various areas. The clash, which began on Thursday morning, saw both sides using heavy weapons, causing panic among Rohingya residents and locals alike.
M Gafur Uddin, chairman of Palangkhali Union Parishad, said the incident has left locals near the camp fearful, with many avoiding leaving their homes except for urgent reasons and informing authorities about the ongoing violence.
1.1 billion people living in acute poverty: UN
Palestinian children queue to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 16
More than one billion people live in acute poverty, with nearly half of them in countries experiencing conflict, according to a new United Nations report.
Countries at war have higher levels of deprivation across all indicators of “multidimensional poverty”, according to an index published on Thursday by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), reporting “markedly more severe” disparities in nutrition, access to electricity, and access to water and sanitation.
Research across 112 countries and 6.3 billion people revealed that 1.1 billion people endure poverty, with 455 million of them living “in the shadow of conflict”, according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index.
“Conflicts have intensified and multiplied in recent years, reaching new highs in casualties, displacing record millions of people, and causing widespread disruption to lives and livelihoods,” said the UNDP’s Achim Steiner.
The index showed that some 584 million people under 18 were experiencing extreme poverty, accounting for 27.9 percent of children worldwide, compared with 13.5 percent of adults.
It also said that 83.2 percent of the world’s poorest people live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The index, compiled jointly with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), used indicators such as a lack of adequate housing, sanitation, electricity, cooking fuel, nutrition and school attendance to assess levels of “multidimensional poverty”.
The index included an in-depth study on Afghanistan, where 5.3 million more people fell into poverty during 2015-16 and 2022-23. Last year, nearly two-thirds of Afghans were considered poor.
“For the poor in conflict-affected countries, the struggle for basic needs is a far harsher and more desperate battle,” said Yanchun Zhang, chief statistician at the UNDP.
India was the country with the largest number of people in extreme poverty, affecting 234 million of its 1.4 billion population.
It was followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The five countries combined accounted for nearly half of the 1.1 billion poor people.
OPHI Director Sabina Alkire said “poverty reduction is slower in conflict settings – so the poor in conflict settings are being left behind. These numbers compel a response: we cannot end poverty without investing in peace.”
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
