However, the first episode of Coke Studio Bangla tried to make waves with a fusion rendition of the Hajong song, "Nasek Nasek" with a Bangla excerpt of Abdul Latif's folk song, "Dol Dol Doloni." Let us ask: why is it that a Hajong song cannot stand on its own on a mainstream entertainment platform in Bangladesh? Where the state not only makes permissible but also enables citizens with clout, power and ties to the ruling regime to define correct versions of religion and religious culture, I wonder what kind of cultural secularism it espouses with Coke Studio Bangla. So, when one makes a claim that Coke Studio Bangla is good for the industry, I wonder in what sense, to what end and for whom? But this is not a review of the musical performances of Coke Studio Bangla and I do not negate the hard work and struggles that most of these artists must have gone through to create their art.

Source: The Star July 24, 2022 19:29 UTC