Utsho Shondha: Ritu Raj and Nandita dedicate a musical evening to charity

Ritu Raj's mesmerising voice swaying in the air as he sang "Dole Dodul Dole" – this is how I was welcomed at "Utsho Shondha".

Arranged by Utsho Bangladesh, this fundraising concert featured Coke Studio Bangla's sensational duo, Ritu Raj and Nandita. The event began in the evening at the capital's Gulshan area, yesterday.

The organisation works tirelessly to provide basic human rights to marginalised women and children. Having worked for 18 years, Utsho Bangladesh has 3 schools and 138 children studying with them.

The musical soiree was held in three parts. The first part entertained the audience with duet performances by Ritu Raj and Nandita on evergreen melodies such as "Ami Shunechi Sedin", "Alga Koro Go Kompar Badhon" and "Sure O Bahir Mala Diye", among many others.  

Their renditions echoed through the gallery, leaving a hall full of content listeners enjoying their soulful voices on the cloudy evening. A band of musicians complimented them beautifully as they picked up one track after another.

With the listeners demanding for more after each number, the session finally ended with the crowd dancing on their feet and singing along with the singers.

The musical part was followed by a semi-formal session where the founder and the executive director Mahbooba Mahmood Leena elaborated the journey and goal of UTHSO Bangladesh.

The presentation ended with the distribution of crests by Dr Humaira Islam, the Executive Committee Commissioner of UTHSO and the founder of Shakti Foundation, to the sponsors, thanking them for their support.

The evening ended with a dinner party where the present guests relished on delicacies from the Bangla cuisine.