Manik Mia Avenue witnessed an unusually large gathering on Saturday as thousands of music lovers flocked to the capital’s main thoroughfare for the ‘Concert for Solidarity’, organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day. The crowd spread beyond the venue, reaching past Khamarbari intersection towards Farmgate Metro Station.
The concert began at 3.30pm with a performance by heavy metal band Mechanics and ended late at night with Nagar Baul frontman James singing ‘Bhigi Bhigi’. People had started arriving from different parts of Dhaka from the early afternoon, with young fans making up a significant proportion of the audience.
Mechanics opened the programme with ‘Aparajeyo’, launching a lively 40-minute set featuring five songs. The band then performed ‘Niyoti’ in memory of its deceased and former members. Its set also included ‘Chhinno Prishtha’, ‘Shubhro Shohor’ and ‘Bismoy’, a popular track from its debut album.
Shironamhin followed, opening with ‘Pakhi’. The band also performed ‘Durgom Giri Kantar-Moru’, the celebrated song by rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Its other selections included ‘Ma’, ‘Ichchhe Ghuri’, ‘Ei Obelay’ and ‘Abar Hashi’. During ‘Ei Obelay’, thousands of spectators joined in, turning the performance into a collective singalong that echoed across the avenue.
Artcell and Feedback also took to the stage as the concert continued. Warfaze began its set with ‘Hariye Tomake’, followed by a series of familiar songs, including ‘Osamajik’, ‘Tomake’, ‘Jat Gelo’, ‘Maharaj’, ‘Purnota’ and ‘Bose Achhi Eka’. Miles then performed ‘Jwala Jwala’ before concluding its set with ‘Firiye Dao’.
The night’s main attraction, James, appeared on stage at around 10pm. Greeting the audience, he said, “Good evening, Dhaka. I love you.” He began with ‘Kobita Tumi Swapnacharini Hoye’ and went on to perform ‘Diwana’, ‘Guru’, ‘Ma’, ‘Dushtu Chheler Dol’, ‘Bangladesh’, ‘Meera Bai’, ‘Taray Taray’ and ‘Pagla Hawa’.
James regularly paused between songs to interact with the audience and express his affection for his fans. “You are my life, you are my soul,” he told the crowd. His performance concluded with ‘Bhigi Bhigi’, bringing the day-long musical programme to an end.
The event also featured speeches by officials from the cultural sector and the government. Television Editors’ Council Member Secretary Zubayer Ahmed Babu delivered the welcome address, followed by remarks from Cultural Affairs Secretary Yasmin Begum.
Yasmin said the concert had been arranged to bring enjoyment to people while also spreading the spirit of National Revolution and Solidarity Day. She expressed the ministry’s hope that the occasion would help familiarise more people with the significance of the day.
Speaking as the chief guest, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury said the government was working to rebuild a country he described as being in a fragile condition. He said the administration had come to power through the people’s votes and was determined to move the country towards prosperity.
The minister also urged people to carry the spirit of Revolution and Solidarity Day forward. His remarks placed the concert within the broader commemorative programme, which combined cultural performances with the government’s message about the significance of the occasion.
With performances by several generations of popular Bangladeshi bands and artists, the concert brought together a large and diverse audience. From Mechanics’ opening song to James’s closing performance, Manik Mia Avenue remained a gathering place for music lovers throughout the afternoon and into the night.
