In a heartfelt tribute to one of Bangladesh's most revered Rabindra Sangeet singers, Papia Sarwar, the 43rd annual session of the Jatiyo Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad will honour her with the prestigious Rabindra Padak posthumously.

Renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent Rezwana Choudhury Bannya recalled her first meeting with Papia Sarwar in 1975. At the time, Papia—then known as Papia Rahman—was a third-year student at Sangit Bhavana (Institute of Dance, Drama, and Music) at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, where Bannya had just begun her musical journey.

Papia Sarwar, renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent and Ekushey Padak laureate, passed away at a private hospital in Dhaka yesterday. She was 72.

Ekushey Padak-winning Rabindra Sangeet artiste Papia Sarwar has been placed on ventilator support due to a deterioration in her physical condition.