DHAKA: Poet and lyricist Latiful Islam Shibli released a recited version of his once-celebrated popular poem ‘Paris er Chithi’ (A Letter from Paris) recently.

Naved Parvez was in music arrangement while the recitation was from Shibli.

Back in the days, iconic rockstar Nagar Baul vocalist Mahfuz Anam James lent his voice on the same poem which was a grand hit song titled ‘Priyo Akashi’.

Afterwards, the cordially-accepted song was covered by many music enthusiasts. 

On the eve of setting free the recited version of the poem ‘Paris er Chithi’ on YouTube Thursday (October 12), Shibli recalled the background and context of the rendered poetry in a Facebook post.  

“The poem portrays a forlorn time when a poet tenderly gave Dhaka city an epithet—The City of Music. Later, on other day, the poet flew to the European region after being moved by an unknown hidden rage.”       

Afterwards, the bohemian poet spent many years by roaming in Europe accompanying the Romanian gypsies.

Later, he became settled in Paris.

On a winter noon when snow was falling outside, the poet received a letter, maybe from someone he had left in his homeland. It was a very touchy occasion for him as the letter was from someone whose handwriting is much known to him. 

However, few days ago Shibli released a song titled ‘Jannater Shubash’ (Smell from the Heaven), depicting the story of persecuted Rohingya children who are sheltered at the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh, after fleeing inhuman persecution in Myanmar.

Lyric, tune and voice for ‘Jannater Shubash’ were also from Shibli himself.

BDST: 1715 HRS, OCT 13, 2017
SI