Popular young singer Badhan Sarkar Puja is going through a particularly busy phase, balancing new music releases, stage performances and preparations for concerts abroad. With fresh songs receiving encouraging responses from listeners, the singer is also working on new projects ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. At the same time, she continues to perform at events across Bangladesh while preparing to take her music to an international audience.
Puja recently released the duet ‘Nojor Jeno Na Lage’ with fellow singer Muhammad Milon. The song has attracted attention since its release, with Puja saying that it has reached more than 200,000 viewers and listeners on YouTube. The track has also found a presence on social media, where users have been creating reels and videos featuring the song.
The response has delighted Puja, who regards the audience’s organic appreciation as one of the song’s biggest achievements. She believes that, at a time when many songs struggle to attract views on YouTube compared with previous years, the response to her latest release is particularly meaningful because it has reached listeners without relying on artificial promotional efforts.
The singer is now preparing for another major release. Ahead of Durga Puja, she has recorded a Rabindra Sangeet, with the musical arrangement handled by Tanvir Alam Sajib. Work on the music video is also expected to begin soon. The project is likely to add another dimension to Puja’s upcoming musical offerings, particularly as Rabindra Sangeet continues to hold a distinctive place in Bengali musical culture.
Alongside the Rabindra Sangeet project, Puja has been working on several other tracks. She has recorded two new songs with Kazi Shuvo, while another duet with Muhammad Milon is awaiting release. With several projects moving forward at the same time, her schedule in the recording studio has become increasingly demanding.
Her professional commitments, however, are not limited to studio work. Puja remains active on the live-performance circuit, appearing at events in different parts of the country. Although open-air concerts tend to become less frequent during the monsoon season, indoor programmes and corporate events have kept her busy. She has recently performed at several functions in Gulshan and Uttara in the capital.
For a performing artist, live shows offer a different kind of connection with an audience. Puja also values the opportunity to meet listeners directly through these performances, allowing her to experience their reactions beyond digital platforms and recorded releases.
Not every planned performance has gone ahead, however. Puja was scheduled to appear at a concert in Khagrachhari on 5 August, but the event will not take place as planned. According to the singer, she decided not to participate following differences with the organisers. Changes to performance schedules are not uncommon in the music industry, where artists and organisers often have to adjust arrangements because of logistical or professional considerations.
Despite the cancellation, Puja intends to remain active on the domestic stage. Her schedule includes performances at various venues across Bangladesh, keeping her closely connected with audiences outside the capital as well.
The singer is also looking beyond Bangladesh. She recently returned home after spending a week in Malaysia during a holiday arranged around the birthday of her husband, Shubhankar Sen. Following the trip, her attention has now shifted towards the United Kingdom, where she is preparing for a series of concerts in London.
Puja is expected to perform at several London programmes during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. She has already started the visa process, according to the singer. If the arrangements proceed as planned, she will have the opportunity to perform before members of the Bengali diaspora in the UK during one of the community’s most significant cultural and religious festivals.
The London engagements could also provide Puja with an opportunity to strengthen her connection with Bengali audiences living abroad. For Bangladeshi singers, overseas cultural programmes often serve as an important platform for taking contemporary Bengali music to expatriate communities while maintaining links with the language and traditions of their homeland.
With new recordings in the pipeline, regular stage appearances at home and potential international concerts on the horizon, Puja is heading into a packed period of professional activity. Her upcoming Rabindra Sangeet, new collaborations and planned London performances are expected to keep her in the spotlight in the months ahead. For the singer, the focus now remains on creating new music, meeting audiences through live performances and extending the reach of her work beyond Bangladesh.
