Ark (Bangladeshi band)
Ark is a Bangladeshi rock band formed in 1991 in Dhaka City by keyboardist Ashiquzzaman Tulu. The original founder members are Ashiquzzaman Tulu, Ridwan Nabi Pancham and Shamim. As of 2017, the band line-up re-consists of lead vocalist Syed Hasanur Rahman, keyboardist Tinku Azizur Rahman and drummer Hassan Towhidur Rahman (Rumi Rahman). Since their debut album "মুক্তিযুদ্ধ (Muktijuddho)" in 1991, the band has released five studio albums and some contributed albums. These have included songs like "আমি পাহাড়ের চূরায় (Ami Paharer Churay)", "ভুলে গেছি (Bhuley Gechi)", "সুইটি (Sweety)", "যারে যা (Jare Ja)", "দূরে বহু দূরে (Doorey Bohu Doorey)", "সেই মেয়েটি (Shei Meyeti)" which have all been top hits in Bangladeshi Rock music. Ark rose to fame in the 1990s, and is one of the "Big Three of Rock" along with Feelings/Nagar Baul and LRB, who were responsible for developing and popularizing rock music in Bangladesh in the 1990s. History Formation and "মুক্তিযুদ্ধ (Liberation War)" (1991–1992) Ark was formed in 1991 in Dhaka City by keyboardist and vocalist Ashiquzzaman Tulu when he met guitarist Pancham, who was playing guitar in the studio. Ashiquzzaman Tulu was a prominent figure in the Bangladeshi rock music industry in the 1980s and 1990s, who was a founder member of Chime, along with Khalid, Shauqat Ali Emon and aly Sumon (current vocal of Pentagon). Tulu was the principal composer of Chime. In the late 1980s, after the release of their second album, there was a huge dispute between Chime and Winning, another legendary contemporary band, over the rights to the track "মন কী যে চায়? (What the Heart Wants?)". The song was written, tuned and composed by Haydar Hossain of Winning, and was also included in Winning's debut album. Winning won the rights to the song in a Trial. This episode was detrimental to Chime's reputation and eventually, Ashiquzzaman Tulu left Chime. Frustrated Tulu started his career as a composer, but as a veteran band musician, couldn't live without being in a band. When he met Pancham and some other musicians, most notably Partha Majumder, elder brother of Bappa Mazumdar, he formed the band Ark. The band's first line-up consisted of keyboardist and vocalist Ashiquzzaman Tulu, lead guitarist and vocalist Pancham, Partha Pratim, lead vocalist Shamim, bassist Ferdous, Mobin and Jagu. This first line-up was without a drummer. Ark released their first studio album, "মুক্তিযুদ্ধ (Liberation War)", from the record label Sargam Records in 1991. This album featured the songs "সেদিনো আকাশে (That Day In the Sky)" and "হারিকেন লুন্ঠন (Hurricane Lantern)", which was a failure. "সেদিনো আকাশে (That Day in the Sky)" was originally a Chime song composed by Tulu, based on the tune of the theme song of the movie Casablanca. In late 1991, Ferdous, Mobin and Jagu left the band and went abroad. In 1992, Raja joined Ark as a vocalist and Shishir joined as a bassist. Both were from the band Rock Brigade. They were part of the band when Ark performed at its first concert, arranged by BAMBA at the University