Rashed Uddin Ahmed Topu (born 2 June 1982) popularly known as Topu is a
Bangladeshi
Bangladeshis ( ) are the citizens and nationals of Bangladesh, a South Asian country centred on the transnational historical region of Bengal along the Bay of Bengal, eponymous bay.
Bangladeshi nationality law, Bangladeshi citizenship was fo ...
musician, singer-songwriter and composer as well as the lead vocalist of
Yaatri.
In 2004, Topu formed the band "Yaatri" and began his career with a compilation album ''Shopnochura'' released in 2004. He rose to fame with the release of the single "Ek Paye Nupur". and signed with
G-Series and released the first band album ''Daak'' in 2006. He released his first solo studio album ''Bondhu Bhabo Ki'' in 2008, followed by the huge popularity, he released four solo studio albums, ''Shey Ke?'' (2010), ''Aar Tomake'' (2013), and ''Dekha Hobe Boley'' (2015).
Life and career
1982–2004: Early life
Topu was born on 2 June 1982.
His father, Shamshuddin Ahmed, was an officer in the
Bangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army () is the land warfare branch, and the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to defend the land of Bangladesh from any external attack. Control of personnel and operations is ad ...
who rose to the rank of
lieutenant colonel. The family moved around a lot because of his job. A formative part of Topu's childhood was spent amidst the hills and trees at
Comilla Cantonment
Cumilla Cantonment () is a military station of the Bangladesh Army, located near Comilla, Bangladesh.
History
During the Second World War, a jungle warfare school was set up at Comilla by the 14th Indian Infantry Division, after the mid-1942 A ...
.
He attended
Ispahani Public School in Chittagong up to class six. In 1994, he entered
Barisal Cadet College where he completed his
Secondary School Certificate
Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or Matriculation examination, is a public examination in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Maldives and Nepal conducted by educational boards for the successful completi ...
(SSC) in 1998 and then his Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC). He holds a bachelor's degree in
computer science
Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. Computer science spans Theoretical computer science, theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to Applied science, ...
from
North South University
North South University (, also known as NSU) is a Private university, private research university in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 1992 under the Private University Act, 1992 by the then Foundation for Promotion of Education and Resea ...
and an MBA from the same university.
Topu's enthusiasm to music began at an early age. He discovered his love for music back in high school when he started to compose and sing on his guitar.
[ He was literally inspired to write from his surroundings. His aptitude to music grew more when his father gave an acoustic guitar as gift for his glorious result in SSC examination.]
2005–07: Career beginnings
While studying in North South University
North South University (, also known as NSU) is a Private university, private research university in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 1992 under the Private University Act, 1992 by the then Foundation for Promotion of Education and Resea ...
in 2003, Topu became a member of North South University Shangskritik Shangothon (NSUSS), one of the biggest clubs promoting culture and music in the university. In 2004, Topu and Emran met at the NSUSS, started jamming together and formed the band "Yaatri". The first line up of their band was Bipu (guitars), Mitu (bass), Emran (keys) and Topu (vocals). It was then when Tony, drummer of Black
Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
collaborated with them for their first single "Ek Paye Nupur" which was released in the compilation album ''Shopnochura'' at the end of 2004.
Yaatri was not officially formed until 2005 when Tony asked for another song in his sequel album ''Shopnochura II''. After that they composed another single titled "Ekta Gopon Kotha" which was one of the highlights of that album, and this fame and recognition brought Khaled, owner of G-Series to offer them a record deal in November 2005. For the next eight months, both Topu and Emran worked with Buno in his studio Dhun, who mixed and mastered the album. Collaborating with other guitarists, bassists and drummers, Yaatri finished their debut album ''Daak'' in October 2006 which consists of ten compositions. It was released on 19 October on the occasion of Eid-ul-fitr
Eid al-Fitr () is the first of the two main festivals in Islam, the other being Eid al-Adha. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the ...
. The album featuring songs Ei Ki Beshi Na, Bhalobasha Shunechi Ja, Ojana Mone, Ke Daake, Miththey Prem was a hit.
Personal life
Topu married Naziba Selim on 24 August 2012 in Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital city, capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the list of largest cities, largest and list o ...
.
Discography
;Band albums
* 2006: ''Daak''
;Solo Studio albums
* 2008: ''Bondhu Bhabo Ki?''
* 2010: ''She Ke?''
* 2013: ''Aar Tomake''
* 2015: ''Dekha Hobe Boley''Third Person Singular Number
''Third Person Singular Number'' () is a 2009 Bangladeshi drama film directed and co-written by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. It stars actors Mosharraf Karim, Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Abul Hayat and musician Topu.
Plot
The story is a portrayal of a ...
''
Filmography
Film
Music videos
Other works
;Book
* 2010: ''Ekta Gopon Kotha''
Topu made his debut as a writer with the book "Ekti Gopon Kotha" which was published in 2010 under Ajob Productions at the Ekushey Book Fair
The Ekushey Book Fair, officially called the Eternal Twenty-first Book Fair, is the largest book fair in Bangladesh. Organized annually in February by Bangla Academy in Dhaka, the month-long event is free to all. In 2024, the fair attracted six ...
. The book contains lyrics of 36 of his songs. They are mostly romantic songs and all the lyrics are written by him.
Awards and nominations
Meril Prothom Alo Awards
, -
, style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1", 2010Third Person Singular Number
''Third Person Singular Number'' () is a 2009 Bangladeshi drama film directed and co-written by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. It stars actors Mosharraf Karim, Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Abul Hayat and musician Topu.
Plot
The story is a portrayal of a ...
, style="text-align:center;", Best Film Actor (Critics Choice )
,
, -
See also
* Anila
Anila () is one of the Vasus in Hinduism, the gods of the elements of the cosmos. He is often associated with the wind god Vayu
Vayu (; ), also known as Vata () and Pavana (), is the Hindu deities, Hindu god of the winds as well as the d ...
* Fuad Al Muktadir
Fuad Almuqtadir is a Bangladeshi-American composer and arranger.
Early life
Fuad left Bangladesh in 1988 to New York city with his family. Fuad grew up with the NRB community of New York City where he learned about Bangladeshi culture and mu ...
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Topu
1982 births
Living people
21st-century Bangladeshi male singers
21st-century Bangladeshi singers
Bengali-language singers
Musicians from Dhaka
North South University alumni
Barishal Cadet College alumni