Sheikh Sahid Ali, singer of the popular song 'Rokeyana', dies at 63
Sheikh Sahid Ali, the singer of the popular song 'Rokeyana', has died. He passed away at 10:30am on Friday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital. The news was confirmed by the singer's friend and media worker Ershadul Haque. He was 63.
Sahid had long suffered from kidney complications and had to undergo dialysis regularly. Recently his condition worsened with a stroke, dengue and infections among multiple complications. When severe bleeding began, he was put on life support on Thursday.
Ershadul Haque said Sahid was admitted to hospital on October 24 after a sodium deficiency was found in his body. He suffered a mild stroke during treatment and could no longer speak normally afterwards. Dengue was also detected in him. As his condition deteriorated, he was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Writing about Sahid's condition, palliative medicine specialist Rubaiyat Rahman said that alongside his kidney illness the singer was suffering from a catheter-related fungal infection, stroke, dengue and liver inflammation caused by the hepatitis C virus. A final episode of abnormal bleeding made his condition still more complicated.
His illness also halted the music project he had prepared for years. He was preparing to release 24 new songs made over 11 years. Alongside releasing the songs under the G-Series banner, he had planned CD, cassette and vinyl record editions. An event for the occasion was scheduled for November 6 at the Krishibid Institution. It was cancelled because of his illness.
Ershadul Haque had said that after the event Sahid was preparing to travel to Delhi after November 15 for a kidney transplant, and a kidney donor had been finalised. That plan was postponed as his health declined. He has now departed with his dreams of releasing the new songs and returning to music after recovery unfulfilled.
Sheikh Sahid was the founder of the band 'Gachh'. He had been singing since the 1990s and became known in the music world as 'Rokeyana Sahid'. His popular songs include 'Rokeyana', 'Upolobdhi', 'Classroome Boshe Shekha', 'Utpakhir Dim', 'Khola Chul' and 'Prem Asbei'. His first album, 'Probhu', was released in 1991, and he released five more albums after that.
