Today is the 53rd disappearance day of eminent singer, composer, social activist and freedom fighter Altaf Mahmud, who is celebrated for his composition of ‘Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February’.
Born at Patarchar in Barishal on December 23, 1933, Altaf Mahmud developed a passion for music in his early teens. He received his first music lessons from Suren Roy.
Mahmud came to Dhaka in 1950 and joined the ‘Dhumketu Shilpi Sanngha’. During the days of the Language Movement, he sang people’s songs to inspire language activists.
In the mid-1960s, Mahmud began composing playback songs for films. He composed songs for films like ‘Jiban Theke Neya’, ‘Kaise Kahu’, ‘Kar Bou’ and ‘Tanha’.
Mahmud took part in the War of Independence as a member of the Dhaka Crack Platoon and also worked as a producer at the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.
He created a hideout for freedom fighters at his house. The hideout, however, was discovered by the Pakistani occupation forces and Altaf Mahmud was abducted on August 30, 1971.
Altaf Mahmud was posthumously awarded the Ekushey Padak in 1977 and Independence Award in 2004.