Wednesday, 29th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 29th April 2026, 5:33 PM
The Bangladeshi musical ensemble Ganpoka, which commenced its journey in 2011, has officially announced the release of its first studio-recorded track and music video. Despite a career spanning over fourteen years and a repertoire of more than ten original compositions performed at various live venues, the band has remarkably never released an official studio version of their work until now.
The debut single, titled “Gotijorota” (Inertia of Motion), is scheduled for release on 1 May 2026, coinciding with International Workers’ Day. The track will be made available across the band’s official digital platforms, including Facebook and YouTube. The lyrics for “Gotijorota” were penned by Chanchal Mahmud, while the accompanying visual production was directed by Mahmudul Hasan, featuring animation by Alvi.
The decision to release their maiden official project on May Day is a deliberate act of symbolism. Members of Ganpoka have frequently characterised themselves as “labourers of song,” asserting that their creative process involves rigorous and often exhausting mental and spiritual toil. By choosing this specific date, the band intends to express solidarity with the global working class and the struggles of the common man, which frequently serve as themes in their lyrical content.
Nasibur Jeeman, the band’s manager, explained that the current industry shift away from physical full-length albums has influenced their distribution strategy. “Gotijorota” serves as the lead single of what will eventually become a complete digital collection. The band intends to release subsequent tracks from the project sequentially, each accompanied by a bespoke music video.
For over a decade, Ganpoka has been a staple of the live music circuit, blending traditional folk sensibilities with modern fusion. Their rendition of “Hridoy Pinjirar Posha Pakhi” became a significant viral success, along with other popular numbers such as “Nodi” and “Ambogane.”
However, the lack of official studio recordings led to significant complications regarding intellectual property. Mithun Hasan, one of the band’s vocalists, revealed that the absence of a digital footprint allowed other performers to record and claim Ganpoka’s original compositions as their own.
“Before we could record our own songs, many others did so. Some even promoted them as their own work,” Hasan stated. “We have encountered substantial difficulties regarding copyright and ownership. We do not wish to foster adversarial relationships with fellow artists, but it has become essential to establish an official record of our work. This necessity prompted our transition into the studio.”
The lead vocalist and composer, Rashiduzzaman Rashed, provided insight into the band’s fourteen-year delay in entering the recording booth. He suggested that the band prioritised internal emotional resonance over commercial viability.
“Until a song is able to provide a trace of our existence, our feelings, and our internal anguish, we continue to dig deep into the mixture of words and melody,” Rashed remarked. He noted that the process was “not easy,” requiring the members to give themselves sufficient time to “dissolve within themselves” before committing their art to a permanent medium.
The journey toward this debut has been marked by personal tragedy. Ganpoka has lost two integral contributors during their fourteen-year tenure. Mahmud Hasan Tareq, the lyricist behind the popular track “Ambogane,” died in a tragic accident, while Hasnat Prodhan, who wrote the lyrics for “Nodi,” passed away due to a rare illness.
In recognition of their contributions to the band’s identity and creative soul, the upcoming debut album is officially dedicated to the memory of these two departed members. This first release represents the culmination of a decade and a half of live performance, internal struggle, and a commitment to preserving the authenticity of their original fusion sound.
Comments