Bengalee New Years Concert - Brahmanbaria 14th April 2009

Dhaka University Honours Mac Haque for his outstanding contribution to Bengali Rock

It was the most moving moment of my life to receive a Special Honour for my contribution to rock music from my Alma Mater the Dhaka University where I was a student in English Literature from 1981 to 1983. This is also the first official recognition by the 'establishment' to Bangladesh Rock and Band Music. Location: Teachers Student Centre (TSC) Auditorium, Dhaka University. 2nd July Wednesday 2008

Doing the Honour on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University (who was indisposed) was the Chief Guest and Ambassador to France in Bangladesh, His Excellency Charley Causeret
My acceptance speech. On left Dr.A.K.M.Mustafizur Rahman of the Dhaka University.
"Take it or leave it, I am a representative of my own Belief. I represent MYSELF and my country"
dHAKA LIVE!At the Teachers Student Center (TSC) of the Dhaka University. We performed for well over 2 hours and emotions were highly charged.

Dhaka University Honours Mac Haque for his outstanding contribution to Bengali Rock

Radio Foorti Flood Aid Concert @ Winter Garden, Sheraton 14th August 2007

Maqsood O' dHAKA LIVE!

Radio Foorti Flood Aid Concert @ Winter Garden, Sheraton 14th August 2007

Radio Foorti Flood Aid Concert @ Winter Garden Sheraton 14th August 2007

Radio Foorti Concert Poster

Hunt for a rock Rock band billboard

Desh Banglalink Music Fest Press Conference 7th August 2007

Djuice DRock Star guest band 7th July 2007

Radio Foorti FM talk show

We had a fun filled hour and half with Dhaka's raunchy FM station Radio Foorti. Photo taken after the interview [LTR] RJ Nusrat, Self, Khoka and Mon2 of dHAKA

The Bauliana book - formal launch programme 4th June 2007

[Top] Nurul Kabir the Editor, Daily New Age in his speech after formally launching the book at Russian Cultural Center, Dhanmondi on 4th June 2007[Left] Making a passionate case for my book

dHAKA LIVE! in concert after the Bauliana book launch

We played an awesome concert after the Bauliana book launch programme and although our set was limited to 6 songs due to the audtoriums time restriction, we performed brilliantly. Emotions are writ large on my face.

A classic shot of the band [Left to Right] Russell on Electric lead guitar, Khoka on Bass, Self on vocals, Shamim on Acoustic Rhythm guitar and Min2 on Keyboards, and on drums Mon2.

"When they ask you tommorow morning whom you heard, tell them that you heard maqsood O' dHAKA" -- my usual good-bye line at the close of the concert!

CLICK ON IMAGES FOR ENLARGEMENTS

mA'AREFOTER pOTAKA Cover Pix

There was a lot of confusion on the portrait that should go into the cover of mA'AREFOTER pOTAKA. Initially it was the pix on the top by Gorky that was selected, which I thought was a much friendlier version of myself, but once we got the prints from Chanchal below, there was to be no dispute on our selection anymore. We finally got the mA'AREFOT buzz that we wanted!

Some great portraits by Gorky

All the photographs were captured by Gorky inside and near the SoundGarden Studio in Mughbazar, Dhaka

dJUICE Hunt for a Rock band Orientation course 26th May 2007

djuice asked the for service of BAMBA members in the grooming session for the 20 rocks bands selected from all over Bangladesh in its hunt contest. Here I am teaching them on microphone and vocal techniques at Water World resort outside Dhaka where the bands were staying. My session lasted for 3 hours and was very interacttive.

Part of my lecture to the participants was focussed on how to make the best use of stage techniques. Stage performance I pointed out is a high art form and not one based totally on luck ~~ although good luck can help!

John of Black, Babna of Warfaze in guitar, Bassbaba on Bass, and TJ of Miles on drums, in one of many 'high voltage' rock tunes show cased by the BAMBA team that evening for the 20 rocks bands.
Self doing a tune with Bassbaba, Schuman of Pentagon in Rhythm guitars and TJ of MILES on drum. One of many songs that made the evening very meaningful.

BAMBA/dJuice Hunt for a Rock Band Audition - Barisal May 2007

A humourous moment in the show, good one of all three, self, Alif from Pentagon and Biplob of Prometheus
Self and Alif of Pentagon - during our role as judges for the BAMBA/dJuice nationwide Hunt for a Rock Band. This was at Barisal on 6th May 2007

Getting Ready for TV

Making a point to the contestants...there were nine rock bands contesting in Barisal

And the winner is ..........!!

Barisal May 2007: All the episodes were made for a TV audience and a lot of attention was taken on the 'looks' of the judges. Me and Alif busy discussing a point animatedly, while the makeup persons puts on the final touch to Biplob (the 3rd Judge) of Prometheus

At work in the Studio

The famous ponytail pix published by the Daily Shomokal - 2005

Profile 2004

Coffee after the SportsZone Gig

Profile 2004

At the SportsZone Concert - Winter 2004

Bangabda 1400 Pixs

1994: This pix was clicked during our session with Chanchal Mahmood at Sonargaon (not the hotel but the village outside Dhaka). It was my idea to package Bangabda 1400 our groundbreaking album on 1994 the best way possible and we spent a great deal in getting IT right. Dora and Roummy of Cats Eye came up with the concept of sticking Nakshi Katha into linen and this set of dresses were born. This was initially picked to be the cover of Bangabda but we threw it away becuase we thought the wide angle lens made us look 'fatter' than we really were! Chanchal thought we were out of our mind.

Calm returns to the Coke Concert 1996

End of a touch and go moment.The crowd promised to behave and we gave a final "Right on, Rock On Guys" salute back to them.

Appeal for calm at the Coke Concert 1996

This was the first time authorities allowed bands to perfom at the Army stadium and we had made up our minds that his venue suited us best. Midway through the concert a small cracker exploded and our ambitions were soon coming to an end.Organisers asked us to make an appeal for calm and on stage with me to do so was from left, Chandan (Winning) Ayub Bacchu (LRB), Tutul (LRB), Labu Rahman (Feedback) and Tipu (Warfaze)The crowd cooled down an the show was a blast.

Only I knew how much I was hurting inside

This is towards the end of my last show with Feedback. I was hurting badly inside, yet I did not let anybody know about it. By the time this pix was taken, I was tired, exasperated, and really wanted the show to end.

NOTE: Bibi Russel designed the Gamcha fatuwa for me.

My last concert with Feedback 1996

My Last Concert with Feedback. The Coke 1996 concert at the Army stadium would be my last LIVE performance with Feedback. We put up a tremendous show. The guys had no idea tha I had made up my mind at that point to quit the band.

Another shot of the first Feedback Concert

Another shot of the concert. Notice Babu and his stacked up keyboards - which was basically a Hammond church organand , Roland (non-polyphonic synthesizer) on the top. A much clearer shot of Roumm and Pearo. Salim Haider and Khoka on extreme right on Guitar and Bass. Babu played some mean sax from this contraption!

First Concert Feedback XXth Century - 1977

Good one of self and Omar Khaled Roummy @ the first Feedback Concert, WAPDA Auditorium, Dhaka. It was hot and we were sweating gallons!

Vintage FeedBack XXth Century 1977

This was 1977 inside the Chambeeli at Hotel Intercontinental, now Dhaka Sheraton, and we are sitting on what was the fixed stage for our daily performances.Pearo and Babu were back from Singapore and we were very proud with the equipments they got back. Babu a proper Roland 60 watts Bass amp and Pearo the shiny plexiglass Tama drums that you see in the background. Notice our dress , the SNF (Saturday Night FEVER) was rage and we dressed like John (Revolting) Travolta. Loose shirts, tight pants and pointed shoes and boots.Pearo was happy with tee shirts and slip ons because his legs had to take the drumming battering every night and he sweated the most after me!Left to Right : Selim Haider (Lead and Rythm Guitar) Foad Nasser Babu (Keyboard, Vocals and Band Leader), Pearo Khan (Drums) Self (Vocals and Percussions), Murad Rahman (Bass and band's "fashion pointman")

Judges for dJUICE nationwide hunt for a rock band

Newspaper photograph of BAMBA members who were judges for the nationwide hunt for a rock band. I am sixth right standing.

Self and my DU friends during a picnic - possibly 1979

I cant remember everybody's names here - but second from extreme left is Mun Mun Ahmed (the BTV news reader), 4th from left Naina, 5th left partly covered Dora, 6th left Samina Mahmood Urmi, self and Iffat - and behind me Mijharul Quayes - now the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Maldives. In front of us is Remus

Dio during mA'AREFOTER pOTAKA studio sessions

Dio worked exceedingly hard for his nine tracks in mA'AREFOTER pOTAKA and matured as a drummer. This was during a particularly difficult recording session @ the Art of Noize Studio. All the pictures were taken by me in low light.

Maqsood O' dHAKA - the Formative Years 1997-1999

With Ayub Bacchu in his Rtv Special show - April 2006

Bacchu had a new band line up to back me in his TV show

Signing the Mug!


During a break from shooting. Bacchu insisted that I wear the gumcha -- a look he finds unique in me.

In the heat of a song -- I had a terrific time and the show when aired recieved rave reviews, specailly the adda that went with it.

Our Narayangung House - still the same after so many years

Outside our rented house inside Ajmeri Manzil, Amla Para, 9 R.K.Gupta Road in Narayangung where me and my sister Nina was born.Time just stood still and nothing has changed.

The entrance to our house. Nothing has changed in all the years, except the new brick soling, which I was told by the owners was done to keep off flood water.

Ajmeri Manzil Revisited

The frontal view of Ajmeri Manzil in Narayangung, which in the late 50's and early 60's was thought to be the prettiest residential building around. Note the magnificient Islamic architecture now in a state of decay.

This was the house of a very rich Hindu merchant and was situated behind the Ajmeri Manzil. The Minaret of the Macchapara Mosque can be seen in the background

Ajmeri Manzil Revisited - 2

This is the prettiest house inside Ajmeri Manzil and was situated in our backyard. It is here that the most lovable Sarkar Babu (the building management clerk) used to live and have his office, and where my sister Nina and myself would spend long hours in our inocenmt childhood. The wooden building is made of teak and is as strong as it was in our childhood and surprisingly the only buliding still in very good condition! It actually predates Ajmeri Manzil and legend has it that that the godown in the bottom was used initially to keep supplies for the building as it was constructed.

The roof of my uncles house where I have very happy memories.

Inside our apartment in Niketon, Gulshan

A view of the eating area and part of the kitchen

Another view of the sitting area. Notice the mirror artwork created by Kazi Rakib. A birthday gift to Dio

Inside our apartment in Niketon, Gulshan

The Sitting area

The main entrance. Notice the madul on the right. I bought this in Sylhet

A view of our neighbourhood Niketon, Gushan

Not a very pretty sight. Shot taken from the roof, you can see the state of pollution and land encroachment on what used to be the Gulshan lake, which is opposite to our apartment.

The very small verandah where we spend time on days the weather is good -- and on sunny winter mornings

The park behind our house

Another of Harold's classic

Harold Rasheed's Paintings in my Pad

The Djinn Series

Dio and Self at Home - December 2005

Ruma, Dio and Self - this was probably the first party in our new apartment. This is inside Dio''s room
Good one of me and Dio, lot of people thought we were twins!

Harold Rasheed's Portrait during the mA'AREFOTER pOTAKA recordings

Harold during a power outage break in recordings. All the photographs were clicked by me in low or almost NO light!

mA'AREFOTER pOTAKA Recordings Sessions - Sound Garden Studios

The mA'AREFOTER pOTAKA recordings were momentous and torturous, for we had to deal with bad studio mamagement and power cuts. Harold in his elements during one such long break -- the use of the candle light was perfect and I clicked all the pictures

Murshed played electric guitars and helped co produce the album.

This was the first day that Dio was recording with me. I am explaining stuff to him.

The Naryangunj Concert of 2005

Narayangunj the place of my birth has always meant a lot to me emotionally. This was the first and only time in my life that I played a full concert in the riverine port and really enjoyed every moment of it.

The first dHAKA concert - 1997

dHAKA on its way and everybody was watching

One of the best pictures of dHAKA every taken. Our first gig at the BAMBA concert 25th December 1997.LTR all in silhoutte: Rubayyat (Guitar), Khoka (Bass) Self (Vocals), Mon2 (drums) and Selim Haider (Guitar).

BAMBA open air concert 1997

Though the swirling smoke and laser lights emerged Maqsood O' dHAKA in its first concert on 25th December 1997 at the Shaheen School ground. Nishiddho was hot and people we waiting to see us LIVE and whether I had the "guts" at all to do my socio-political activism song in public. On my left is Salim Haider ex-Feedback who was with dHAKA for a few months. Behind me on Bass is Khoka.

Pix Credit: Irshadul Haque Tinku

Self and Harold in the studio - 2004

The New Look

The only thing predictable about me is how unpredictable I am with my looks. This is the new ME 'fundamentalist mullah' - my hair is now three inches longer - and my moustache and beard is anybody's guess!

Harold and Self at the Studio

Harold Rasheed the 'guitarist of my spirit' joins dHAKA in recording session during Ramadhan of 2004.

The half Ho Chi Minh Look - 2004!

My friend aNIK came from Australia and walked in to my Adobor office in 2004 to record my latest look, which he heard was a cross beween Ho Chi Minh and Che Guevara! I couldnt sustain the look for long as I found the summer heat unbearable to keep a beard. I wonder how mullahs manage?
Che Guevara has been a part of my life since the 70's.

This photograph was taken at a rather difficult and sad period in my life. My face probably indicated my inner feelings of remorse.

Signing autograph for aNIK.

Kid Years - Possibly 1960!

I recovered this from a pile of old pix~~ too bad I grew up, I was cuter then!! I was never unsure about who I am~~~ nor where I am going, or where I have come from? All I knew then, as much as I know now is ~~~ I HAVE ARRIVED!