20 Most Famous Bangladeshi singers 

20 Most Famous Bangladeshi Singers 

*Originally published by Beatrice W on July 2022 and Updated by Vanessa R on June 2023 and Updated by Purity M on March 2024

For most of the 20th century, Bangladesh was a traditional South Asian agrarian society. Its soundtrack was Bengali folk music, that featured instruments like the tabla drum set, harmonium pump organ, and ek tara, the one-stringed guitar.

With time, the country’s music has changed and is now a wide variety of styles. Bangladesh claims some of the most renowned singers, composers, and producers in Asia. Music has 

Music in Bangladesh is one of the common features that can be heard everywhere and has served the purpose of documenting the lives of the people.

Here are the 20 most famous Bangladeshi singers.

1. Shayan Chowdhury Arnob 

Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, known professionally as Arnob, is a Bangladeshi singer-songwriter, musician, painter, filmmaker, animator, and producer. He was born on 27th January 1978 in Dhaka, Bangladesh in southern Asia.

Arnob was the founder of the indie folk band Bangla. He gained nationwide recognition as a solo artist for his title track ‘She Je Boshe Ache’. The song featured in his first solo album Chaina Bhabish, released in 2005.

This album was followed by his two notable solo albums ‘Hok Kolorob’ and ‘Doob’ which cemented his position as a prominent musician in Bangladesh.

 2. Runa Laila 

Runa Laila, the famous singing star of Bangladesh started her singing career in the Pakistan film industry.  She was famous as a playback singer in the Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani film industries.

‘Dama Dam Mast Qalandar’, a ‘Sufi’ based famous song, is one of her songs that was recognized internationally. She later released some of the biggest hits of the Bengali and Hindi music scene, such as Shaadher Lau.

She won the Bangladesh National Film Award and is also a Guinness record holder for recording 30 songs in 3 days. 

 3. Habib Wahid 

Habib Wahid, a popular Bangladeshi composer and singer. Photo By Ahmed – Wikimedia Commons

Habib Wahid is a Bangladeshi composer and singer. He was born on 15th October 1979 in Dhaka, Bangladesh and that is where he grew up. Singing runs in the family as he is the son of the 1970s singer Ferdous Wahid.

Habib studied music and audio engineering at the School of Audio Engineering in London. He started working with other Asian music producers such as Karsh Kale while in the UK. 

This award-winning singer has solo albums as well as collaborative albums. He even released a collaborative album with his father, Ferdous Wahid, in 2008.

4. Sabina Yasmin 

Sabina Yasmin is a very good singer who was born on 4 September 1953 in Bangladesh. Her mother was a singer and so are her four sisters.

She is best known as a playback singer in Bengali cinema and is also famous for the patriotic songs sung in the early 1980s. She has sung many national level and devotional songs and done playback in Bengali films.  

Sabina has sung for the radio, gramophone companies, television, and films. She has a record of more than 1500 songs as a playback singer in films alone. She is an acclaimed singer who can never be forgotten. 

5. Rezwana Choudhury Bannya 

Rezwana Choudhury Bannya. Photo By Md.altaf.rahman – Wikimedia.

Rezwana Choudhury Bannya is a well-known Bangladeshi classical singer and academic. She was born on 13th January 1957 in Rangpur, Bangladesh.

She is a Professor of music and founding chair of the Department of Dance at the University of Dhaka. She has won numerous awards including Bangladesh’s highest civilian award, the Independence Day Award she received in 2016.

6. Shuvro Dev  

Born in Sylhet of Bangladesh, Shuvro Dev is a musician that started his career in the mid-1980s and sang modern romantic songs. He came to the limelight when he received the President’s Award as “Notun Kuri” in 1978.  

He is one of the pioneer Bangladeshis who has made music videos with MTV. He often travels around the world to perform and he even had a duet performance with the famous singer Shakila Zafar.

7. Shubhashish Mazumder Bappa 

Shubhashish Mazumder Bappa commonly known as Bappa Mazumder is an acclaimed music composer, lyricist, and singer.  He was born on 5th February 1972. Bappa is the son of a music couple and has a sibling who is also a musician.

Bappa Mazumdar has made a remarkable place in the music industry of Bangladesh with his composition, singing, and writing songs. He is best known for his Bengali romantic compositions.

This young musician makes people dance to his music, earning him the title ‘The Melody King of Bangladesh’. His band ‘Dalchhut’ has made a place in the hearts of his fans.

8. Ayub Bachchu 

Ayub Bachchu. Photo By Jubair1985 – Wikimedia

Ayub Bachchu was a Bangladeshi South Asian rockstar guitarist, composer, singer, and songwriter. He was born on 16th August 1962 in Chittagong, Patiya, Bangladesh.

He was the founder of the Bangladeshi rock band LRB where he earned success as the lead singer and the lead guitarist of the band. and is considered one of the greatest singers of all time.

Ayub Bachchu had a successful career with several albums to his name. He founded AB Kitchen, a full-service audio recording studio and production company plus he had a collection of over 60 guitars.

Ayub died of cardiac failure at his residence in Dhaka on 18 October 2018, at the age of 56 years. He was buried in Chaitanya Goli in Chittagong, Patiya. He had performed in Rangpur City two days before his death.

9. Shafin Ahmed 

Shafin Ahmed. A Bangladeshi rock bassist, singer-songwriter, record producer, and politician. Photo By Jago – Wikimedia

Shafin Ahmed is a Bangladeshi rock bassist, singer-songwriter, record producer, and politician. He was the lead singer, songwriter, and bassist for the Bangladeshi rock band Miles.

He was born on 14th February in Kolkata, India but the family later moved to Dhaka. He comes from a musical family and was exposed to western musical influences while studying in England, 

Ahmed is well-known not only in Bangladesh but also in West Bengal, India.

10. Shimul Yousuf 

This famous musician was born in Dhaka on 24th  March 1957. Shimul started music at the early age of five. She performed on a children’s show “Kochi Kanchar Mela” and presented her musical talent on the radio and television too.

Shimul, who is a trained classical and traditional songs singer, went to the Institute of Fine Arts and also Baroda School of Fine Arts.

11. Hridoy Khan

One of the best singers from Bangladesh, Hridoy Khan, made a name for himself in 2008 with the release of the Hridoy Mix CD. His first solo album, Bolo NA, was released the same year. Then he launched the album Choa, which became a huge smash all across the nation. The two albums by Hridoy Khan with the highest sales were these two. He composed three top-charting songs for the film Television. Hridoy Khan primarily occupied his music studio.

12. Porshi

Kamal hossen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Porshi participated in the government-sponsored singing competition “Komol Kuri” in 2007, where she won the category for country songs. She took part in the “Chanel I Khude Gaan Raj” talent competition in 2008 when she was in class VI and finished as the second runner-up.  She performed her first playback in 2009, the same year she began work on her solo album, “Porshi,” which was released in 2010.

13. Dilshad Nahar Kona

In 2006, Kona released her first studio record, “Jametic Bhalobasha.” The song was a commercial hit and showed great respect for the performer. She captured the audience’s interest with some of the record’s most well-known songs on her solo album.

Kona’s music album “Fuad ft Kona” was published in 2008. And thereafter, in 2011, she issued her album, “Just Kona.” The excellent singer contributes music for filmmaking as well. The official song for Bangladesh’s 2014 hosting of the ICC World Twenty20 was performed by Kona. She has already contributed her voice to a number of television advertising jingles.

14. Minar Rahman

SazzadHossain, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Independent Bangladeshi singer-songwriter, composer, lyricist, writer, and cartoonist Minar Rahman is better known by his stage name, Minar. His first song, “Shada Ronger Shopnogulo,” a hit in 2008, helped him gain fame.

Since his early years, Minar has written lyrics, composed music, and developed his unique musical taste. In 2008, he published “Danpitey,” his self-written, self-composed, and self-sung debut solo album. In Ekushey Boimela 2019, he released his first book, “Rudro Ebong Ekti Grand Piano.”

15. Raef Al Hasan Rafa

Raef Al Hasan Rafa is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer from Bangladesh who was born on October 27, 1988. He is best recognised for his work as the current drummer of the metal band Cryptic Fate and the former drummer of the rock band Aurthohin. 

16. Feroza Begum

Feroza Begum, a distinguished classical vocalist, emerged as a maestro in Nazrul Geeti and Rabindra Sangeet. Born in 1930, her contribution to preserving and promoting Bengali classical music is unparalleled. Her songs showcase her emotive and resonant voice, embodying the essence of Bengali musical traditions. Awarded the Independence Day Award in 1979, Feroza Begum’s impact extends far beyond her time, influencing future generations to appreciate the richness of classical Bengali music.

17. Andrew Kishore

Andrew Kishore’s velvety voice became a hallmark of Bengali cinema. Born in 1955, he contributed immensely to the Bangladeshi music scene. He is considered the ‘playback king’ of the Bangladeshi music industry, singing more than fifteen thousand songs. Andrew Kishore’s impact earned him multiple National Film Awards in Bangladesh. His soulful renditions continue to echo the sentiments of love and life, making him an enduring figure in Bengali music. He died in 2020 due to cancer.

18. Abdul Alim

Abdul Alim dedicated his career to popularizing Baul music, a traditional form of Bengali folk. Born in 1931, his renditions of “Bondhu Tomay” and “Gari Chole Na” resonate with authenticity, embodying the spirit of rural Bengal. Abdul Alim won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1975 for Sujan Sakhi, posthumously awarded the Ekushey Padak in 1977, recognizing his significant role in preserving and popularizing folk music. His legacy lives on as an influential figure in the rich tapestry of Bengali cultural heritage.

19. Miles (Shafin Ahmed)

Miles, founded by Shafin Ahmed, revolutionized Bangladesh’s rock music scene. Formed in 1979, their fusion of rock and Bangla lyrics produced hits that put them on the map. Shafin Ahmed’s leadership propelled Miles to iconic status, influencing subsequent generations of Bangladeshi musicians. The band’s contribution to shaping the country’s contemporary music landscape is immeasurable. Miles’ electrifying performances and genre-defying sound continue to resonate with fans, defining an era of musical evolution in Bangladesh.

20. Aurthohin

Led by charismatic vocalist Sumon, Aurthohin emerged as a trailblazer in contemporary rock and alternative music in Bangladesh. Formed in 1998, their hits like “Adbhut Shei Cheleti” (2000) and “Anmone” (2008) resonated with many, solidifying their place in the country’s music history. Aurthohin’s ability to blend profound lyrics with powerful compositions has made them cultural torchbearers. The band’s influence extends beyond music, reflecting the aspirations and sentiments of a generation seeking expression and identity.