Bulbul Akhtar is a familiar name in Chattogram’s regional music scene. Through her voice, she has captured the lives, love, heartbreak, laughter, and tears of people across greater Chattogram, along with the region’s earthy charm.
During the 1980s and 1990s, she enjoyed widespread popularity alongside legendary regional singers Shefali Ghosh and Kalyani Ghosh. Times have changed, and the music industry has evolved, but her songs still hold a special place in listeners’ hearts.
Born in 1964 in Matarbari, Cox’s Bazar, Bulbul developed a deep interest in music early on. She began singing at just six or seven. Her family environment and passion for music gradually led her toward a singing career. She later established a distinctive identity through her performances of Chattogram’s regional, mystic and Maizbhandari songs.
Several songs, including ‘O Hala Bhramara Ain Aijo Phulor Hara’, ‘Premor Batash Lagil Jar Gaye’, ‘Bakkhalir Majhi O Bhai Sonadia Basha’ and ‘O Halachan Golar Mala’, brought her particular recognition among listeners.
Her songs capture not only love and separation but also the lives, landscapes and stories of people in the coastal region. Various production companies released nearly 98 audio cassettes featuring her songs from the 1980s to 2005.
Bulbul Akhtar’s music appeals through its simple regional language and emotional depth. In her voice, the Chattogram dialect becomes a powerful medium for expressing people’s joys and sorrows. Her songs have also remained popular among younger generations.
Regional songs are more than entertainment; they preserve a region’s language, history and culture. Bulbul Akhtar’s long musical journey has enriched that heritage. Her melodies continue to evoke a deep sense of belonging among people in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar.
Yet, at this stage of her life, the singer is struggling with health problems and financial hardship. She suffers from heart disease, asthma and other physical ailments, making it increasingly difficult for her to continue receiving the treatment she needs.
The singer, who once drew crowds to her performances, now faces uncertainty.
Despite her frustration, Bulbul Akhtar does not want to give up singing. She says that whatever life may bring, music remains her devotion and love. She wants to continue singing for as long as she lives.
At the same time, she needs support and people’s goodwill to cope with her illness and financial difficulties.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
