Biography

Once a captain of ocean-going merchant vessel, Ustad Azizul Islam is one of the leading flute players of this subcontinent who had a passion for playing flute from his childhood. He used to pass his lonely hours at sea playing flute and listening to famous classical flautist Pandit Pannalal Ghosh and other classical artists (vocal/instrumental) through radio and recordings.

He was born in 1945 in Rajbari (the then working place of his father) though his ancestors were from a small village- Bhatshala, dist. Brahmanbaria, the district which is the birth place of Sur Samrat Ustad Alauddin Khan– the most notable classical musician of India. Ustad Azizul Islam is a permanent resident of Chittagong since childhood. He passed Matriculation Examination from Chittagong Muslim High School, Intermediate Science from Chittagong College and thereafter got admitted as a cadet of the first batch of Mercantile Marine Academy (presently Bangladesh Marine Academy) in 1962 which later launched his life at sea.

Internationally renowned flautist Ustad Azizul Islam began training under the guidance of Pandit Priyoda Ranjan Sen Gupta, a prominent teacher of the long-established music school “Arya Sangeet Samity” in Chittagong. He received training from classical vocalist Ustad Velayet Ali Khan and then from world-famous Sarod player Ustad Bahadur Khan.

He also had the opportunity to learn from famous flute player Pandit Devendra Murdeshwar, and finally from Pandit V. G. Karnad, both close disciples of Pandit Pannalal Ghosh, pioneer of classical flute. It was Pandit V.G. Karnad’s guidance and lessons that helped him considerably in his musical career.

International Performances

Ustad Azizul Islam performed live around the world. A list of few would include:

Performances in India:

  1. Performed in the world-famous Dover Lane Music Conference in Kolkata in it the golden jubilee festival, which is a matter of great honor for Bangladesh.
    The CD of his performance in Dover Lane was produced by Hindustan Music and launched in Swami Vivekananda Hall of Ramkrishna Mission in presence of house full audience right before the performance of legendary sitar player Ustad Vilayat Khan.
  1. Ramkrishna Mission, Kolkata organized his solo performance with houseful audience in Swami Vivekananda Hall which had been telecasted on Kolkata Durdarshan number of times.
  2. Performed twice in the famous classical music festival organized by Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra, (off Kolkata) a renowned cultural institution of the subcontinent.
  3. Performed Jugalbondi (jointly) with legendary violinist Padmabhushan Pandit V. G. Jog in Kolkata Kalamandir and also in Bangladesh National Museum while Ustad Sabir Khan (percussionist) accompanied on tabla.
  4. In Delhi-Habitat Center organized his solo performance with houseful audience in their auditorium.
  5. In Kolkata performed in Thakurpukur Cancer Institute.
  6. In Kolkata-Sangeet Research Academy world famous music school of India, organized his solo recital twice in their auditorium in presence of their scholars, teachers and other audience.
  7. Rotary International Peace & Culture Summit in January 2020 in Santiniketan, India was inaugurated through his performance. Upon listening to his performance, he was specially invited to perform in the Rotary India Centennial Summit.
  8. He performed in Rotary India Centennial Summit held in Kolkata in February 2020 in presence of many world Rotary dignitaries which was a great honor for our country.
  9. In Mumbai, Manik Shahani Art Foundation organized his solo performance in Nehru Center with house full music lovers.
  10. The music festival organized by Manik Shahani Art Foundation in Birla Shavaghar, Kolkata was concluded through his recital which was great honor for him.

Performances in Singapore:

  1. In the International Music Conference for Indian Classical Music and Dance organized by Singapore-Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS).
  2. Organized by Bangladesh Language & Cultural Foundation.
  3. Also, once solo flute evening performance organized by Singapore-Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS).

Performances in U.S.A:

  1. In Houston organized by Bangladeshi Mariners
  2. In Washington DC– Bangamela-2012, Ernst Community Cultural Center.
  3. In New York organized by Multi Music Media Inc.
  4. In Boston organized by Baithak.
  5. In Sanjose organized by Bangladeshi Community.
  6. In Davis organized by Bangladeshi Community.

Performances in Canada:

  1. Performed in Canada at Winnipeg (Manitoba State) organized by Aromansse.
  2. Also performed in Winnipeg (Manitoba State) organized by SANSKRITI (Indian Community)

Performances in Australia:

  1. He was the only artist to perform from Indian subcontinent in famous Port Fairy Spring Music Festival (off Melbourne).
  2. In Sydney organized by Protity– Popular Bangladeshi organization.
  3. In Melbourne organized by Bangladeshi community in Melba Hall.
  4. In Canberra organized by Australian National University (ANU) – “The ANU Bangladeshi Students Association”.

Performances in Malaysia:

  1. Organized by High Commission of India, Malaysia & The Green Town Indian Cultural Society.
  2. Performed in UKM University, Kuala Lumpur.

Performances in Bangladesh

Ustad Azizul Islam has been honored by and performed multiple times in programs organized by the following institutions:

National Press Club, Chittagong Press Club, Bangladesh Sudhdha Sangeet Proshar Goshthi, Sargam, Sanskriti Bikash Kendra, Media Center Limited, Chayanat, Pohela Boishakh Udjapon Committee, Brahmanbaria Shahitya Academy, Basanta Udjapon Parishod of Dhaka, Nobanno Utsob Udjapon Parishod of Chittagong, many Rotary Clubs (Dhaka, Chittagong and Kolkata) , Lion Clubs, Chittagong Engineers’ Institute, Chittagong Theatre Institute,  For Quantam Foundation Members at Chittagong organized by Shobda-Nongar and also at Dhaka Organized by Media Cell of Quantam, Uchchash Lalitkola Academy, Chittagong Lawyers’ Association- Shako, Cox’s Bazar Sangskrity Kendra, Chittagong Railway Officers’ Club, Samatot (Cumilla), Jatiyo Rabindrasangeet Sammelon at Cumilla, Cumilla Festival, Hindol Sangskritik Goshthi- Rajshahi, Doel Academy (USA, Based Organization), Boonon Art Space at Rajbari (Birth place of the artist) etc.

Special solo performances organized by different organizations:
  1. Bangladesh Television Dhaka organized his solo performance in their auditorium in presence of specially invited audience. Also recorded his performance specially without audience.
  2. Bangladesh Betar (Radio) organized his special audience performance in their auditorium number of times at Dhaka and also at Chittagong.
  3. Bangladesh National Museum organized his solo flute evening twice in their prestigious main auditorium with houseful audience.
  4. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy also organized his performance specially in their prestigious auditorium Jatio Natyashala in presence of houseful audience more than once.
  5. Jatiyo Kobi Kazi Nazrul Islam University at Trishal (Mymensingh) specially invited him to perform in Nazrul birth festival when vice chancellor of Kazi Nazrul University at Asansol (India) was present who after listening to his performance invited him instantly to perform in their Nazrul birth festival. This was a great honor for the artist.
  6. Accordingly, he performed in Kazi Nazrul University at Asansol (India).
  7. Nazrul Institute, Dhaka also specially organized his solo flute evening in their auditorium with houseful audience which was also a rare opportunity for the artist.
  8. Cox’s Bazar International University and also Chittagong Independent University organized his solo flute evening with houseful audience in their respective auditorium.
  9. The newly established building of famous music school Chayanat (Chayanat Bhaban) was inaugurated through his performance.
  10. The convocation ceremony of Asian University for Woman in 2018 was inaugurated through his flute recital in presence of many overseas dignitaries including noble laureates which was a rare event of his life.
Almost all the organizations (Govt. or Non-Govt.) who arranged his solo performance honored/recognized him with crests etc. Many of his solo performances were organized in prestigious auditorium e.g., Bangladesh National Museum main auditorium, Jatio Natyashala (Shilpakala Academy), Engineers Institute main hall Chittagong etc. World famous Indian Tabla players e.g., Ustad Sabir Khan, Pandit Samar Saha, Pandit Subhen Chatterjee accompanied him on Tabla good numbers of times.

Publications

Ustad Azizul Islam dedicated three music albums in memory of famous musician and journalist Wahidul Hoque, poet Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury and theatre personality Sayeed Ahmed which were released by Laser Vision Limited through his solo flute evening in Bangladesh national museum main auditorium and in Jatio Natyshala (Shilpakala) at different times respectively.  

 

He also dedicated one audio album of different ragas in memory of his brother Badrul Islam. This album helped to raise fund for the “Badrul Memorial Scholarship” for Economics students of Chittagong University.

Hindustan Musical Products Ltd. produced CD of his live performance in famous Dover Lane Music Conference. This CD was released in Swami Vivekananda Hall, Ram Krishna Mission, Kolkata just before the solo recital of world-renowned Sitar player Ustad Vilayat Khan in presence of house full audience.

Laser Vision Limited also released three audio CD’s, one DVD and two VCD’s in different occasion through his solo flute performances in Bangladesh National Museum main auditorium and Jatio Natyashala.

Interview

Desh Television interviewed him in their popular and prestigious program “Bela Obela Sharabela”, in which only intellectual and creative people specially invited. He was interviewed by famous cultural and drama personality Asaduzzaman Noor.

He was interviewed in Indian TV Channel very popular program “Aj Shokaler Amontrone” on Tara Music and also interviewed once in Tara News (Kan Pete Roi) with famous Sarod Player Pt. Buddhadev Das Gupta.

He was also interviewed in Akashbani Maitry (Indian Radio) for more than one hour.

Many TV channels in Bangladesh e.g., BTV, Channel i, NTV, SATV etc. interviewed him on different occasions.

Famous Poet Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury wrote a poem Bashir Kanna (The Cry of the Flute) after listening to his recital at Bangladesh National Museum Main Auditorium. Few other poets (e.g., Poet Prof. Abu Taher Majumdar, Anindita Mukta & others) also wrote poems after listening to his recital at different programs.

Social Responsibility

Ustad Azizul Islam, son of Rafiqul Islam and Aziza Khatun is an active Rotarian (PHF), and former President of Rotary Club of Islamabad, R.I. Dist-3282. He is Life Member of Chittagong Ma O Shishu Hospital, and Chittagong Diabetic Hospital. His wife Dr. Anjuman Ara Islam is a child specialist and well known as social worker. They have two daughters Amina Islam and Dr. Durdana Islam and five grandchildren.

List of few Prizes and Honors

Ustad Azizul Islam was awarded gold medal and crest for his outstanding contribution to music jointly by Dhaka Rotary Club of Metropolitan and Ashfaq Nazma Foundation. He also received Chittagong Shilpakala Academy Award in 2014, Bangladesh Radio Chittagong Center Golden Jubilee Award in 2013, three times winner of Channel I Music Award, Daily Star Odommyo Chattogram Accolade 2012, Chattogram Press Club Celebrating The Genius Award 2016, Chottolar Bir 2018 award by lifestyle and business magazine Click based in Chattogram, Lifetime Achievement Award 2018 by Rotary International 3282, Maolana Vashani Memorial Award in 2004, Brahmanbaria Sahittyo Academy Award in 2008, Shelter Promotion Award in 1999 at Kolkata, Sangeet piyasi Award in 2003 at Kolkata, Manish Raja Memorial Award in 1998 at Delhi.

SARGAM, widely circulated monthly magazine of Music organized his solo flute evening at National Museum main auditorium where he was honored with the title of “Ustad” in presence of houseful audience.

In recognition to his outstanding contribution to music, the Government of Bangladesh awarded Ustad Azizul Islam the prestigious National Award “Ekushe Padak” in 2017. He was also conferred the prestigious “Bangla Academy Honorary Fellowship” in 2021.

"Playing a flute is like writing a book. You're telling what's in your heart...It's easier to play if it's right from your heart. You get the tone, and the fingers will follow."

~ Eddie Cahill

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