Renowned Bangladeshi rock musician Nagar Baul James was honoured with a special lifetime recognition at the 27th edition of the Meril-Prothom Alo Awards, held on Friday evening at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center. The award was presented by Matiur Rahman and Anjan Chowdhury. James remained at the venue for approximately ninety minutes.
He arrived at around 6:15 pm, dressed in a black T-shirt and his signature headscarf. Upon entering the green room, he made a light-hearted remark about the low temperature, comparing it to “Siberia”. Other members of his band joined him shortly afterwards and echoed similar observations about the cold environment. He then took a seat and engaged in informal discussions with them.
Although generally reserved in public, James appeared notably more conversational backstage. Discussions covered a range of topics, including domestic affairs, politics, economic conditions, tensions between Iran and the United States, and global oil supply concerns. He also spoke about his interest in automobiles, noting that he keeps informed about new models both domestically and internationally. During the conversation, he observed that electric vehicles could become more widespread in Bangladesh in the future, with charging stations potentially replacing conventional fuel pumps.
Despite the informal setting, he remained attentive to performance preparations. He repeatedly checked with guitarist Ishmam-ul Farhad Elin regarding readiness and was informed that the sound check had been completed. During this time, he had light refreshments, including black coffee, sandwiches, and cake, while enquiring about the progress of the programme, audience turnout, and the timing of his appearance.
James, who is rarely seen outside live concert settings, gave a brief response when asked why he avoids other public events, stating simply that he does not usually attend them.
When called to the stage, he proceeded alongside his spokesperson Rubaiyat Thakur Robin. At that moment, performers Shubho, Kishore, and Imran were presenting renditions of his songs. James listened from backstage before stepping onto the stage, where he was greeted with applause from the audience. After conducting a brief sound check and greeting attendees, he performed one of his popular tracks.
Following the performance, the commemorative award was formally presented. In his brief remarks, he thanked the organisers and said, “Half has been done; the other half remains.” As he exited the stage, he made a light remark about the weight of the award, noting that it felt substantial.
Afterwards, he briefly interacted with fellow performers, accommodated requests for photographs, and departed the venue by car.
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