Anil Hazarika, a revered 70-year-old lyricist, singer, and composer, is currently facing severe financial and physical distress at his ancestral home due to chronic heart disease. Over the past five years, the folk maestro has been entirely sidelined from his musical career by his deteriorating health, leaving him unable to afford the specialized medical care required for his recovery.
Hazarika is widely celebrated across the south-western region of Bangladesh for compiling and composing approximately 1,300 regional songs. His extensive body of work has played a vital role in preserving the unique linguistic heritage and disappearing colloquial vocabulary of the greater Jessore area. Reflecting on his forced isolation, Hazarika remarked with deep regret, “I can no longer perform songs.”
Early Life and Rise to Cultural Prominence
Born the eldest son of the late Hazari Lal Biswas, Hazarika resides in a modest, tin-roofed house in Tilkhari village, located within the Dhaneshwargati Union of Shalikha Upazila, Magura. He grew up in a large family alongside two brothers and two sisters.
Hazarika’s journey into folk music began under the direct tutelage of his father, who was also a traditional singer. Due to acute poverty, Hazarika had to cut his formal education short at the age of 15 to work alongside his father as a manual labourer.
By the age of 20, captivated by the rich dialectal phonetics of the greater Jessore region, he began writing original lyrics and scoring melodies. His dedication to regional folklore culminated in his formal enlistment as a regular performing artiste for Bangladesh Betar (Khulna Station) in 1985. Over the decades, his tracks became a staple of state-backed radio and television broadcasts.
Profile of Anil Hazarika’s Life and Career
| Biographical Category | Details and Milestones |
| Age and Residence | 70 years old; Tilkhari Village, Shalikha, Magura |
| Family Lineage | Eldest son of the late folk singer Hazari Lal Biswas |
| Broadcast Enlistment | Enlisted Artiste at Bangladesh Betar, Khulna (Since 1985) |
| Musical Catalogue | Documented and preserved around 1,300 regional tracks |
| Institutional Honours | Awards from Rajshahi University, Jessore Nrityabitan, and Magura Shilpakala Academy |
| Current Medical Status | Diagnosed with advanced heart disease for 5 years |
Financial Extinction and Government Response
The elderly artiste currently lives under strained conditions with his wife, Jyotsna Hazarika, following the marriage and relocation of their two daughters. According to his wife, the family has already spent over 400,000 Bangladeshi Taka by exhausting their savings on preliminary medical consultations, yet his cardiovascular condition remains unimproved. She expressed hope that advanced clinical treatment would allow her husband to regain his health and return to the folk music fraternity.
Hazarika’s preservation of indigenous language has previously earned him high institutional praise, including formal honors from the Department of Folklore at Rajshahi University, the Nrityabitan cultural institute of Jessore, and the Magura District Shilpakala Academy.
Acknowledging the artiste’s critical situation, the Shalikha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Tanvir Hasan Chowdhury, stated that the local administration stands ready to assist. He confirmed that if Hazarika or his family submits a formal written petition for financial aid to either the Upazila administration or the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the state will promptly evaluate the case to arrange medical compensation.