Momtaz Begum (born 5 May 1974) is a Bangladeshi folk singer and the incumbent

Jatiya Sangsad The Jatiya Sangsad ( bn, জাতীয় সংসদ, lit=National Parliament, translit=Jatiyô Sôngsôd), often referred to simply as the ''Sangsad'' or JS and also known as the House of the Nation, is the supreme legislative body of ...

member representing the

Manikganj-2 Manikganj-2 is a constituency represented in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) of Bangladesh since 2014 by Momtaz Begum of the Awami League. Boundaries The constituency encompasses Harirampur Upazila, Harirampur and Singair Upazila, Sing ...

constituency since 2014 and Reserved Women's Seat-21 during 2009–2013. Referred to as "''The Music Queen''," she has recorded around 700 albums. Some of her notable albums include ''Return Ticket'', ''Ashol Boithoki'', ''Murshider Talim'', and ''Ronger Bazar''. Begum won

Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer ( bn, জাতীয় চলচ্চিত্র পুরস্কার) is the highest award for female film playback singers in Bangladesh. History Bangladesh National Fil ...

three times for the films ''

Nekabborer Mohaproyan ''Nekabborer Mohaproyan'' is a 2014 Bangladeshi film directed and produced by Masud Pathik. The screenplay is based on the poetry of Nirmalendu Goon. It earned six Bangladesh National Film Awards including the Best Film. The film received finan ...

'' (2014), ''

Swatta ''Swatta'' ( bn, সত্তা, ) is a 2017 Bangladeshi romantic tragedy film. The film directed by Hashibur Reza Kallol and produced by Sohani Hossain under the banner of Taranga Entertainment. It is a story written by Sohani Hossain and a s ...

'' (2017) and '' Maya: The Lost Mother'' (2019). In 2021, she earned an honorary doctorate degree from Global Human Peace University in

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...

, India.

Early life

Begum was born on 5 May 1974 in the village Joymontop in Singair, in

Manikganj Manikganj is a district situated in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. Manikganj is one of the green and pollution free towns in Bangladesh. The recent urbanization and highway built joining Dhaka and Shingair Upazilla has given it an outstanding road ...

to Uzala Begum and Modhu Boyati, a

baul The Baul ( bn, বাউল) are a group of mystic minstrels of mixed elements of Sufism, Vaishnavism and Tantra from Bangladesh and the neighboring Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam's Barak Valley and Meghalaya. Bauls constitut ...

singer. She spent most of her childhood learning music from her father. She also took lessons from Razzak Dewan and Abdur Rashid Sorkar. Begum's initiation into music occurred early. She was a child when she accompanied her father, first as an audience member, and soon after a co-performer. The kind of music she performed like, Marfati, Boithoki, and Murshidi can roughly be categorized in the mystic songs genre.

Career

Initially Begum's released albums entirely financed by herself. After these became popular she was hired by producers to make further recordings, though her payment was usually a very low flat fee and the contract stipulated that this would have to be paid back if these did not sell well. However, her musical works are tended to sell out almost immediately and within a very short period, she found herself quite busy; often recording two songs per day. In an interview with the Bangladeshi daily '' Daily Star'' she stated: "I used to be handed down the lyrics and the music tracks minutes before and there used to be hardly any time for rehearsal and I had to record it at all in one go". Begum was elected as a member of parliament from

in 2014.

Charity work

Begum established a 50-bed Momtaz Eye Hospital with support from

Orbis International Orbis International is an international non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Its programs focus on the prevention of blindness and the treatment of blinding eye diseases in developing countries throug ...

, in her native village Joymontop. The hospital was established in memory of her father, Modhu Boyati, who lost his eyesight as he could not afford a

cataract A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that leads to a decrease in vision. Cataracts often develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may include faded colors, blurry or double vision, halos around light, trouble w ...

operation due to poverty.

Personal life

Begum resides in

Mohakhali DOHS Mohakhali DOHS is a neighborhood of Dhaka for Armed Forces Officers. The neighborhoods belong in the Dhaka North City Corporation. History The area was established in the mid 1980s as part of the Defence Officers' Housing Scheme and has 536 indiv ...

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...

References

External links

Singer Momtaz Speaks to VOA (26-May-2006)

VOA Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...

, Washington. {{DEFAULTSORT:Begum, Momtaz Living people 1974 births Bangladeshi women musicians Bangladeshi folk singers 20th-century Bangladeshi women singers 20th-century Bangladeshi singers Best Female Playback Singer National Film Award (Bangladesh) winners 10th Jatiya Sangsad members 21st-century Bangladeshi women singers 21st-century Bangladeshi singers 11th Jatiya Sangsad members 21st-century Bangladeshi women politicians Women members of the Jatiya Sangsad