Momtaz Begum


Momtaz Begum is a Bangladeshi singer and the incumbent Jatiya Sangsad member from Manikganj-2 constituency since 2014. Referred to as "The Music Queen," she has recorded around 700 songs in her career spanning four decades. Momtaz has performed concerts across Bangladesh, in Britain and in the United States. She has performed numerous events for the Bangladeshi diaspora communities, in particular in London, where she is very popular during the Baishakhi Mela
Begum won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the film Priya Tumi Sukhi Hou.

Early life

Begum was born on 5 May 1974 in the village Joymontop in Singair, in Manikganj. She spent most of her childhood learning music from her father, Modhu Boyati who was also a singer., Her other teachers and mentors include Matal Razzaque Dewan, and Abddur Rashid Sorkar.
Begum's initiation into music occurred early. She was a child when she accompanied her father, first as an audience member, and soon after a co-performer. The kind of music she performed like, Marfati, Boithoki, and Murshidi can roughly be categorized in the mystic songs genre.

Career

Initially Begum's released albums entirely financed by herself. After these became popular she was hired by producers to make further recordings, though her payment was usually a very low flat fee and the contract stipulated that this would have to be paid back if these did not sell well. However, her musical works are tended to sell out almost immediately and within a very short period, she found herself quite busy; often recording two songs per day. In an interview with the Bangladeshi daily Daily Star she stated: "I used to be handed down the lyrics and the music tracks minutes before and there used to be hardly any time for rehearsal and I had to record it at all in one go". Some of her music albums are Return Ticket, Ashol Boithoki, Murshider Talim, and Ronger Bazar.
Begum was elected to parliament from Manikganj-2 in 2014.

Charity work

Begum established a 50-bed Momtaz Eye Hospital with support from Orbis International, in her native village Joymontop. The hospital was established in memory of her father, Modhu Boyati, who lost his eyesight as he could not afford a cataract operation due to poverty.