Shaikh Shahed Ali, the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and founder of the band Gach, is currently battling critical health complications in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Dhaka. Best known for his hit track “Rokzana”, the veteran artist was placed under close medical observation following a stroke and a concurrent diagnosis of dengue fever, alongside pre-existing renal issues.
His medical ordeal began on 24 October when he was rushed to hospital after experiencing a severe drop in blood sodium levels. While receiving treatment for hyponatremia, Shahed suffered a stroke that impaired his speech. According to his close friend Ershadul Huq, head of the event management firm Cool Exposure, the musician is presently unable to speak normally and relies on low whispers and hand gestures to communicate with family members and attending clinicians.
Shahed has been managing end-stage renal failure and undergoing routine dialysis sessions for the past four years. As his condition took a sharp downturn, medical staff transferred him on 31 October to the high-dependency unit (HDU) of a healthcare facility in Gandaria, Old Dhaka. His worsening condition subsequently necessitated an immediate transfer to a specialized private hospital’s ICU.
Medical management has proven increasingly complex due to compounding clinical issues. Despite undergoing his latest scheduled dialysis session, Shahed continues to experience severe physiological strain. Huq confirmed that the artist has developed pronounced swelling in his right arm and leg. Furthermore, doctors detected a blood clot within the arteriovenous fistula constructed for his regular dialysis treatment, prompting the medical team to evaluate alternative vascular access methods to continue kidney filtration safely.
The sudden health crisis has halted several major professional and personal milestones. Shahed was scheduled to host a grand retrospective showcase on 6 November at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in Dhaka. Organized in collaboration with the record label G-Series, the event was set to mark the release of 24 original tracks composed over the last 11 years. Designed as a landmark collector’s project, the release plan encompassed four physical CDs, four cassette editions, and four limited-edition vinyl records. The showcase has now been cancelled indefinitely.
Additionally, Shahed was preparing for a crucial medical trip to Delhi shortly after 15 November to undergo a kidney transplant. A compatible organ donor had already been finalized for the procedure. However, given his acute systemic infection, stroke recovery requirements, and unstable physical state, international travel and the transplant surgery have been postponed until he achieves medical stability.
A prominent figure in Bangladesh’s contemporary music scene since the early 1990s, Shahed established a distinct footprint as both a soloist and the leader of Gach. He entered the mainstream audio market with his debut solo album Probhu in 1991, subsequently releasing five more full-length studio albums over his multi-decade career. Among his celebrated discography are popular numbers such as “Rokzana”, “Upolobdhi”, “Classroom-e Boshe Shekha”, “Utpakhir Dim”, “Khola Chul”, and “Prem Ashbei”.
His family, colleagues, and nationwide fanbase have requested collective prayers and well-wishes as the medical team works to stabilize his condition.
