Asha Bhosle (1933-2026) was a legend not only in the context of South Asia, but the entire musical world feels her absence.

The news sent shockwaves across the subcontinent, with heartfelt tributes pouring in from across the world of music, including from Bangladesh’s legendary vocalist, Runa Laila.

Veteran folk singer Kangalini Sufia shared a heartfelt moment with legendary artiste Runa Laila, singing to her and embracing her during rehearsals for the TMSS Channel-i Music Awards 2025 in Bogura.

Social media was abuzz yesterday as news broke of a collaboration between Pritom Hasan and legendary vocalist Runa Laila for a song in the upcoming film “Prince.” The announcement quickly drew attention from fans and music lovers alike.

Legendary Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila has expressed deep emotion after learning that one of her songs inspired the creation of a written alphabet for an endangered indigenous language in India.

What many people do not know, however, is that the inspiration behind this effort came from a song by renowned Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila.

Legendary singer Runa Laila’s unique approach to practice and her illustrious musical journey have recently come to light, with insights shared by her husband, film actor Alamgir.

Runa Laila has always been more than a legendary voice. She is an icon of beauty, style and charisma, someone whose influence has never faded. She still holds a special place in the hearts of young listeners. She is also one of the rare artistes who connects Bangladesh, India and Pakistan through her music, and reminds us why art crosses borders.

Reflecting on the piece, Runa Laila shared, “ 'Mast Qalandar' has always been close to my heart. To perform it again in a new style alongside younger musicians has been a rewarding experience, and I am happy that this song finds life across generations.”

Legendary South Asian vocalist Runa Laila — who has sung in 18 languages over her six-decade long career, including Bangla, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu, Sindhi and English — is set to release a new rendition of her iconic track “Dama Dam Mast Qalandar” on Coke Studio Bangla. The song will be published today on the platform’s official YouTube channel.

When Runa returned to Bangladesh in the 1970s after building a successful career in Pakistan, she faced hostility and professional exclusion from sections of the local music industry.

The entirety of Bangladesh’s entertainment industry was grief-stricken after losing this legendary singer to kidney complications.

Flautist Shahidul Islam, a native of Brahmanbaria, reminisced about the first time he held a flute at a local Baishakhi Mela, where he would often play and immerse himself in the art. What began as a simple pastime eventually led him to turn his love for music into a profession at Bangladesh Betar in 1999.

“Initially, ‘Bolechho’ was crafted with her in mind as a solo artiste. But when she suggested I join her in making it a duet, it felt like a dream come true. This invitation will remain one of the most treasured gifts of my career,” he said.

In a video shared on her Facebook page on Sunday, the artiste thanked her fans for their continuous support over the years and gifted them her YouTube presence.

“I cannot believe that we are seeing scenes like this on the streets of Bangladesh, our own people being treated like this, unbelievable,” wrote Shafin Ahmed four days ago on his Facebook profile. Little did he know that this would be the last visual he would have of his beloved motherland. All his life, Shafin had raised his voice against whatever he perceived as injustice– which also led him to leave the band he helped make legendary, Miles.

Shafin Ahmed, who especially made a steadfast name for himself in the 1990s, has made significant contributions to the band music scene in the country. He is known for many hit songs that have deeply resonated with millions of young people.

Runa Laila, the legendary icon of the subcontinent, shares a strong connection with contemporary artistes. Recently, this renowned artiste praised the song "Dushtu Kokil," sung by National Film Award-winning singer Kona.

To commemorate her 60th year in music, prominent artistes from India and Pakistan sent heartfelt messages to the legendary singer.

Runa Laila is a globally acclaimed artiste who has made her mark with various achievements including being honoured with the coveted Independence Award. This esteemed artiste, famed especially in the subcontinent, began her singing career 60 years ago, observing six decades in music today.