Ferdous Ara


Ferdous Ara is a Bangladeshi Nazrul Sangeet singer and winner of the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh.

Early life and education

Ara, nicknamed Marine, was born in Brahmanbaria District to A.H.M. Abdul Hai, a classical singer of the early 1950s, and Mosharrefa Begum. She has three sisters, Jannat Ara, Nur-e-Jannat and Hur-e-Jannat. She completed her bachelor's and master's in History from the University of Dhaka.

Career

In 1973, Ara started her career as a regular vocal artist in Bangladesh Radio and afterward in Bangladesh Television. She has released numerous albums of Nazrul Sangeet, contemporary and patriotic songs. In 1985, her first album was released by SARGAM. She became the first person in Bangladesh whose music video of Nazrul Sangeet was released.
File:Ekushey Padak 2025 Presentation By Muhammad Yunus Dhaka 2025-02-20.jpg|thumb| Ferdous Ara accepting the Ekushay Padak in 2025 from Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
Ara teaches Nazrul songs at the Nazrul Institute, University of Dhaka and Dhaka Music College. She founded a music school, Sur Saptak in 2000. She contributed as a background vocal in films, documentaries, and drama. She sang in a movie titled Meher Nigar by Impress Telefilm.
Ara sang at the Gala Concert at Royal Albert Hall, London on an invitation of Inner London Education Authority in 1986. She also performed in Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Ara authored the books Sangeet Bhubaney Nazrul and Sanchitar Katha Barta. She also hosts Sanchita on Channel i and Ei Shomoy on nTV, both are television programs about Nazrul.

Albums

  • First tape with 12 Nazrul songs, Sargam
  • Long play and tape, Nazrul Institute
  • Shaon-A-Rathe, His Master's Voice
  • Tumi Ashley Jey Ki Bhalo Lagey, Saregama
  • Tumi Ki Dokhina Pobon, Saregama

    Personal life

Ara is married to Rafiqul Mohammed, a government officer. Together they have a son, Faisal Mohammed who was designated as one of the first Bangladeshi Sexton Scholar in the field of Electrical Engineering from Dalhousie University, Canada and a daughter, Fahmi Ferdous.

Awards