IPDC Ogroj celebrates Victory Day with Shujeo Shyam

The tenth episode of IPDC OGROJ – a webinar series broadcast live from the official IPDC Facebook page, every first and third Thursday of the month – presented the narratives of a protagonist who has played an instrumental role in keeping the spirit of Freedom Fighters alive during the nine months of the Liberation War.

Host Anis A Khan steered an in-depth conversation with the guest, Shujeo Shyam, who has been associated with Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra (SBBK) since the inception of the radio broadcasting center in April 1971.

Born into a musical family in Sylhet, the composer has been associated with music since his childhood. Shujeo Shyam joined Chattogram Betar in 1964 as a guitarist and director of children's music.

He started directing music for films in 1989, and since then, he has established himself as an irreplaceable name in the music arrangements of Bangla films.

He is the composer of the eternal song "Bijoynishan urcheoi," which aired on Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra on 16 December, 1971.

He is also the composer of patriotic songs – like "Rokta Chai, Rokta Chai," "Rokto Diye Naam Lekhechi," "Aaj Ron Saje Bajaye Bishan," and "Ayre Chashi Mazur Coolie" – which were broadcast by Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during that period. 

In 2016, the government recognised him as a freedom fighter for his contribution to the cultural struggle in Bangladesh's Liberation War.

Consecutively, Shujeo Shyam won three National Film Awards for Best Music Director for his extraordinary music in "Hasan Raja", "Joyatra" and "Abujh Bou."

The vocalist, who won the Shilpakala Academy Medal in 2015 and the Ekushey Padak in 2014, expressed his nostalgia throughout the episode of Ogroj.

Mominul Islam, the managing director and CEO of IPDC Finance Limited, said, "Through OGROJ, IPDC intends to initiate a digital memoir on the narratives of these protagonists from pre- and post-independent Bangladesh. On account of Mohan Bijoy Dibosh, IPDC is delighted to let the audience immerse in the nostalgia of the freedom fighter and relive the spirit of the liberation days."

"He is indeed an inspiration to the youth for holding on to the same passion and charge towards victory in the days ahead," he added.

The episodes ruminate over both professional and personal peaks and valleys of the guests' lives, with renowned host, Anis A Khan, a well-known banker who retired recently after serving the industry for nearly four decades.

Distinctive icons from diverse sectors – such as finance, economics, business, art, culture, education, and media – flip through the pages of their lives on the show. The live shows' recorded versions are available on the IPDC Facebook page and IPDC Official YouTube channel.