Singer Somnur Monir Konal and Rafsan have lent their voices to a new song addressing the social harms of dowry, with lyrics by noted lyricist Mahbubul Khalid and music by the late legendary composer Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul.
Titled ‘Dowry’, the song focuses on the suffering caused by dowry demands and the violence that women can face as a result. Through its lyrics, Khalid presents dowry as a social affliction, a source of pain and a curse, while calling on people not to accept such injustice silently.
The song portrays how greed for dowry can turn what should be a happy marriage into a life marked by suffering. It also refers to violence against women and acid attacks, highlighting the severe consequences that can emerge when financial demands are placed on a bride or her family.
One section of the song delivers a direct message of resistance, describing dowry as an affliction, torment and curse before rejecting the suffering associated with it and identifying the practice as a crime. Another part calls for boys and girls to be treated equally and for children, regardless of gender, to be educated and encouraged to become self-reliant.
Education and financial independence form an important part of the song’s message. The lyrics suggest that giving children opportunities to develop their skills and become economically independent can help strengthen their ability to challenge social injustice.
The song has been released through the ‘Khalid Sangeet’ YouTube channel. It is also available through a Facebook page and website carrying the same name.
Mahbubul Khalid’s body of work covers a wide range of subjects. Patriotism, nature, religious and social festivals, public awareness, sport and contemporary social issues have all featured in his songs. His writing spans several musical traditions, including mass songs, folk music, devotional compositions, children’s songs, patriotic pieces, romantic and melancholic works, as well as songs shaped by spiritual themes.
A number of his compositions have been inspired by real incidents that drew public attention. He wrote ‘Aduri’ about a child domestic worker who suffered abuse in Mirpur, Dhaka. His song ‘Felanire Korlo Guli’, written in connection with the killing of Felani at the border, expressed grief and protest surrounding the incident.
Another composition, ‘Magurar Phul’, was inspired by the abuse of a child named Achia in Magura. The song addressed the violence suffered by the child while also expressing protest against wider social realities. Khalid, who wrote and composed the song, received recognition at the Baifa Awards for the work.
More recently, his song ‘Ramisar Bichar’ was released, continuing his focus on incidents and issues that have a strong human dimension.
His songwriting has also extended beyond Bangladesh. He has written several songs about the humanitarian crises involving Palestine and the Rohingya community, while football and cricket World Cups have also provided themes for his work.
The new song ‘Dowry’ follows that established pattern, using music to address a social issue and encourage resistance to injustice. With Khalid’s lyrics, Bulbul’s composition and the voices of Konal and Rafsan, the song places the consequences of dowry and the importance of education and self-reliance at the centre of its message.
