Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to perform in Dhaka to raise funds for July Smrity Foundation

A concert titled “Echoes of Revolution” is scheduled to be held at the Army Stadium in Dhaka on December 21.

The concert aims to raise funds for the Shaheed July Smrity Foundation, which supports the families of martyrs and those injured during the July uprising.

The concert will feature renowned Pakistani musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, alongside several popular Bangladeshi bands, with the support of Prime Bank.

The organising group, Spirits of July, held a press conference at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen this afternoon to announce the concert details.

In a statement, they said: “To show solidarity with the families of the martyrs and those injured during the July Uprising, Spirits of July, a platform created by Dhaka University students, is organising this concert on December 21.”

The organisers emphasized that all proceeds from the concert will go to the Shaheed July Smrity Foundation, which is dedicated to assisting the families of those affected by the uprising.

The statement also highlighted that Spirits of July and the Shaheed July Smrity Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding on November 12 to formalise their partnership.

Regarding Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s participation, the organisers noted, “A contract has been signed with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan on November 28. He has graciously agreed to perform at the concert free of charge. The proceeds from ticket sales will go to affected families.”

In addition to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the concert will feature performances by popular Bangladeshi bands Artcell, Chirkutt, Ashes, Aftermath, and rap artists Sezan and Hannan. The event will also include a graffiti exhibition reflecting the July Revolution, as well as the Mugdha Water Zone.

Tickets for the concert will go on sale in early December. While ticket prices are yet to be finalised, organisers confirmed that three categories of tickets will be available.

To ensure transparency and accountability, an advisory board consisting of Dhaka University faculty and prominent figures has been formed to oversee the financial matters of the event. Several members of the advisory board were present at the press conference.

Speakers at the press conference included members of Spirits of July — Hasan Mahmud Rizvi, a student of the International Relations Department at Dhaka University; Sadekur Rahman Sunny from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism; Md Jafor Ali from the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies; and Wahid-Uz-Zaman from the Islamic Studies Department.