Yesterday marked an exceptionally beautiful moment for Warfaze, the band that shaped the childhood of an entire generation, as it received the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian honour, for its contribution to music.
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The recognition also marked a historic first for Bangladeshi band music. Adding to the significance of the occasion, the award was received by the band’s founding member, Sheikh Monirul Alam Tipu, who has remained associated with Warfaze since its inception, guiding it through multiple phases and line-up changes.
Speaking about the moment, Tipu recalled that the nomination had been announced earlier this month, with the award ceremony initially scheduled for the 20th. “It was postponed and finally held yesterday. All of us in the band were eagerly waiting for this moment. When we finally went together and received it, the feeling was truly extraordinary. It’s hard to put into words. It felt surreal and deeply fulfilling,” he said.
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The drummer also shared a light-hearted moment from the ceremony, recalling his interaction with Tarique Rahman, who handed over the award. “It was quite surreal to realise that he already knew me as a musician. He greeted me warmly, congratulated me, and said he was looking forward to hearing more songs from us. I told him we would be bringing new music very soon,” Tipu said with a laugh.
Reflecting on how the band members reacted to the recognition, Tipu said emotions ran high. “Everyone was completely overwhelmed. At first, it was hard to believe. After making music for so many years, receiving an official recognition from the state is a massive achievement for us. But this honour is not ours alone—it belongs to every band in the music industry. More importantly, it belongs to our listeners, fans, and families who have supported us throughout this journey.”
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Recently, social media has been flooded with photos of Warfaze members celebrating a small reunion. Tipu shared that as the ceremony scheduled for the 20th was postponed, the band decided not to cancel their pre-arranged plans. “We came together for prayers and an iftar gathering. Later, we played some light acoustic Ekushey-style songs. Former members, current members, family, friends, and well-wishers were all present. It was a beautiful evening filled with memories and shared stories after so many years,” he said.
A lighter moment from the day also caught public attention when band members shared photos of their rickshaw ride after the ceremony. Tipu explained that due to security arrangements, their vehicles were parked near the High Court shrine. “Calling the cars would have taken over 45 minutes because of traffic. So, we walked a bit, took rickshaws, and then got into our cars. That ended up being the fun part of the day,” he said.
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Looking ahead, Tipu revealed that Warfaze has new music on the way. “A new song will be released during this Ramadan. Another track from ‘Pothchola 2’ is also coming. We are working on two releases and have already begun organising and planning for a full-fledged album,” he shared.
Addressing the band’s fans, Tipu emphasised that the Ekushey Padak is as much theirs as it is the band’s. “This achievement belongs to our audience, listeners, and fans. Their love, trust, belief, and commitment have kept us going all these years. We have survived and grown because of their prayers and support. We hope their love and trust remain with us always, and we ask everyone to keep us in their prayers.”
