Shahnaz Rahmatullah is a Bangladeshi

Bengali people

The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...

 singer who is very popular in Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

 and Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

. She gained popularity when she sang in Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

i films..Her brother Zafar Iqbal (actor) was one of the most popular hero in the Bangladesh Film industry.

Her main area of singing entails modern songs (Adhunik Gaan) and patriotic songs.

Emerging as a singer in Dhaka

Dhaka

Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...

 in mid 1960s, she also attained popularity in Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

. In late 1960s early 1970s she took Pakistani masses by a storm with her famous patriotic songs sohni dharti Allah rakhe and jeevay jeevay Pakistan. Her immensely melodious voice combined with the music of Sohail Rana

Sohail Rana

Sohail Rana is a Pakistani music composer for films. He was introduced by actor Waheed Murad in Pakistan film industry and gained popularity when singer Ahmed Rushdi sang his compositions in such films like Arman and Doraha. He is now based in Canada.-Early Life and career:Sohail Rana was born in...

are all time favorites.

She has recently released a new album where she has sung 6 songs composed by Shafiq Tuhin called Megh Roddur. It also contains 4 songs sung by Samina Nabi.

Some popular Bangla songs

1. "Je chhilo drishtir shimanay"
2. "Joy bangla banglar joy hobe hobe"
3. "Shagorer shoikote ke jeno dur hote"
4. "Ami to amar golpo bolte"
5. "Megh ghono boroshay"
6. "Oi akash ghire shondha"
7. "Khola janalay cheye dekhi tumi"
8. "Amar deshero matir gondhe"
9. "Ekbar jete de na"
10. "Amay jodi proshno kore"
11. "Ektara tui desher kotha bol re"
12. "Shagorer teer theke"
13. "Ke jeno shonar kathhi"
14. "Phooler kane bhromor eshe"
15. "Manik shey to manik noy"
16. "Aro kichhu dao na dukkho amay"
17. "Pari na bhule jete"
18. "Ogo obhimani priyo"
19. "Ei jiboner monche morey"
20. "Jodi chokher drishti diye"
21. "Prothom Bangladesh amar shesh Bangladesh"
22. "O behula shundori" from Behula
23. "Probhu na na na" from Behula
24. "Nache mon dhina dhina" from Behula
25. "Ki haare poncho aiyo" from Behula
26. "Ogo bhindeshi nagor tomar kothay bari-ghor" from Suorani Duorani
27. "Shono shono konna ogo konna moner kotha boli" from Suorani Duorani
28. "Premer dosh-ta roop" from Suorani Duorani
29. "Bubujan tor rongo dekhe ongo jole" from Anowara
30. "Ei nao ghore shonar bulbul" from Anowara
31. "Lilabali lilabali poro jouboti" from Anowara
32. "Saat bhai chompa jago re" from Saat Bhai Chompa
33. "Ki anondo ghore ghore mohana bone" from Saat Bhai Chompa
34. "Shunun boli notun kore puran ghotona" from Saat Bhai Chompa
35. "Kon tara"
36. "Haar jeet-er baji"
37. "Kichhu kotha kichhu sriti"
38. "Buker othoi nodi"

Some popular Urdu songs

1. Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan (sung originally in 1968.
2. Sohni dharti Allah rakhe
3. Kahan ho Tum Chalay Aao
4. Mauj barhay ya Aandhi Aaye
5. Wo dil hi kya tere milnay ki jo dua na karay
6. Ruk jaao abhi na jaao

External links

• Shahnaz Rahmatullah, The Daily Star article published on January 19, 2008