In a moment charged with heavy nostalgia and musical brilliance, the legendary line-up behind Bangladeshi rock giant Aurthohin’s acclaimed 2008 album Oshamapto 1 reunited on stage after nearly thirteen years. The historic performance took place on Friday night at the InterContinental Dhaka during the album launch and concert for Avoid Rafa’s latest project, Etotoboka Keno Tumi, organised by Dhaka Broadcast.
Musicians Saidus Saleheen Khaled Sumon (popularly known as Bassbaba Sumon), Ibrahim Ahmed Kamal, Shishir Ahmed, and Raef al Hasan Rafa stood side by side once again, evoking intense emotions amongst generations of rock enthusiasts. The last time all four artists shared a stage was in early 2012, prior to Rafa and Kamal pursuing separate creative endeavours. Over the years, their paths diverged significantly: Kamal joined Warfaze, Rafa established his own successful band Avoid Rafa, while Shishir recently rejoined Aurthohin in 2026 following a brief departure.
For over an hour, the quartette delivered an electric set featuring timeless classics such as Oshamapto, Anmone, and Odhbhut Shei Chheleti. The atmosphere inside the venue proved Sumon’s long-standing belief true—that he rarely needs to sing, as the audience performs the songs for him. Fans chanted every lyric in unison, spanning generations of listeners.
The reunion was the brainchildren of Rafa, who envisioned bringing the iconic group back together after years of reflection. Drawing inspiration from legendary international acts like Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and Roger Waters, Rafa recognised the deep yearning amongst fans to see former bandmates share a stage once more. Personal loss and the passage of time accelerated his decision to realise the dream before it became too late.
“When we created those songs, we were young men. Now, younger audience members practically call us ‘uncles’,” Rafa remarked with a touch of humour. He explained that the goal was to perform their classic catalogue directly before Gen-Z listeners, ensuring the modern generation experienced their groundbreaking sound firsthand rather than merely hearing about it from their parents.
Shishir Ahmed reflected deeply on the emotion of the night, describing it as one of the finest moments of his musical career. Touched by the overwhelming warmth of the crowd, he expressed gratitude to fans whose steadfast support made such a milestone possible.
The concert also featured notable collaborations, including Pritom Hasan joining Rafa for Cholo Arekbar Uri, and Rafa’s elder brother, Sadi Muktafi, performing alongside him on Ami Akash Pathabo. While future joint performances remain unconfirmed, the band hinted that given the extraordinary demand, further collaborative projects may well lie on the horizon.
