Artist performing a chorus number at the concert

Although Bangla music embarked on its journey centuries ago, the last 100 years have been particularly momentous for the medium. This epoch saw the emergence of titanic talents such as Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, DL Roy, Atul Prasad, Rajnikant, Hason Raja and many more.

These immensely talented poets and musicians have enriched Bangla music in a way that decades after, is still considered to be a source of pride for Bangladeshi's. Few nations in the world can boast of such an opulent heritage in music. Incidentally, in 1905, inspired by a Baul (traditional folk) song "Ami kothae pabo tarey", Tagore composed a remarkable song that extols the splendor of our motherland. That song, "Amar shonar Bangla ami tomae bhalobashi" went on to become our national anthem. In 2005 Amar shonar Bangla completed its 100 years of existence. To celebrate the last 100 years of Bangla music, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Ltd in Bangladesh put together a musical soiree at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on 24 February 2006.

In his opening speech, HSBC Bangladesh Corporate Banking Head, Mahbub-ur-Rahman said, "This programme is a reflection of HSBC's intention to promote local culture and heritage as well as diversity." HSBC Bangladesh CEO Steve Banner mentioned how an event of such magnitude could not have been possible without the involvement of the country's noted singers, musicians and researchers."

Music exponent Dr Karunamoy Goswami and educationist Professor Abdullah Abu Syed also spoke at the event. Dr Goswami, Professor Abu Syed and Abdus Shakur selected the songs performed at the event. The main event started with an instrumental presentation of DL Roy's "Dhanodhanyo pushpobhora amader ei bashundhora" followed by a choral rendition of the national anthem. Artistes Shaheen Samad, Khairul Anam Shakil, Mita Haq, Mahiuzzaman Chowdhury and others rendered the song. The drift of nationalism among the poets and musicians during the early 1900s that made way for scores of magnificent patriotic songs was evident in the selection of songs from that era - "Bango amar janoni amar", "Jagao pathik o shejey ghumey ocheton" and more. "Ekbar bidaye de ma, ghurey ashi," a song about Khudiram, a young activist who became iconic during the 'Quit India' movement was rendered by Samina Chowdhury.

Chandana Majumdar presented an emotive rendition of Hason Raja's "Matiro pinjirar majhey bondi hoiyya re", Mita Haq and Mahiuzzaman Chowdhury performed a romantic duet "Sheydin dujoney dulechhinu bon-e". Ghazals originated in Farsi and were first popularised in Bangla by Kazi Nazrul Islam Shaheen Samad rendered Nazrul's Bangla ghazals "bagichaye bulbuli tui" and "E kon madhur sharab diley". Mita Haq performed "Ami tokhono chhilem mogono gohono ghumer ghorey", a Tagore song illustrating the state of nature as well as psyche in monsoon. This year marks the 100th birth anniversary of SD Burman. As homage to this brilliant musician, Khairul Anam Shakil performed "Tumi je giyachho bokul bichhano pothey", composed by Burman. A rendition of "Amar bhai-er roktey rangano ekushey February", a song written by Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury and composed by Shaheed Altaf Mahmud that attained emblematic status during the Language Movement led the line up of songs from the '50s. Shahnaz Rahmatullah performed "Shagorer teer thekey".

Apel Mahmud presented a zealous rendition of "Mora ekti phoolke banchabo boley juddho kori", a song that boosted the morale of freedom fighters as well as the masses during the Liberation War. Farida Parveen sang "Ei Padma ei Meghna" and "Tomra bhuley gechho Mallikadir naam". Sabina Yasmeen performed "Keu konodin amarey tho kotha dilo na" from the movie, Shundori, Agun performed "Orey neel dariya" from the movie, Shareng Bou. The final segment of the event included "Shobkota janala khuley dao na" by Sabina Yasmeen, "Kabita porar prohor eshechhey" by Samina Chowdhury and "Mon shudhu mon chhuenchhey" by Nakib Khan. The programme wrapped up with a rendition of "Ami Banglae gaan gai", a song written by Pratul Bandyopadhyay years ago, which rekindled patriotic emotions among the listeners recently.