DHAKA: To honor her contributions to Bengali songs, West Bengal government will confer this year’s ‘Bangabibhushan’ to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday (September 17) told reporters at the state Secretariat about the decision taken by her government, reports the Indian Express.

“Lata Mangeshkar has sung innumerable memorable Bengali songs. To honour her contribution, we have decided to confer her with the Bangabibhushan award this year. I have spoken to her and she has agreed to it,” Banerjee said.

The award will be conferred to Mangeshkar after the Durga Puja, Banerjee said adding a letter in this regard has already been sent to the singer.

The chief minister along with Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of the music and media company Saregama, formerly HMV, with whom Mangeshkar had recorded several hit songs, would visit the singer at her Mumbai residence to confer the award, she said.

The Trinamool Congress government had started conferring Bangabibhushan to eminent personalities for their contribution to various fields since 2011. Danseuse Amala Shankar was the first person to receive of the award.

BDST: 0918 HRS, SEP 18, 2016
BD