Bangladesh invites Shillong Chamber Choir amid efforts to reset India ties
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Bangladesh has proposed hosting India’s Shillong Chamber Choir for a cross-border performance as Dhaka seeks to reset ties with New Delhi under the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party government.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah announced the plan after meeting members of the Shillong Chamber Choir during a recent visit to Meghalaya. He said he met the choir’s lead vocalist, William Basaiawmoit, and learned about the ensemble’s 25-year journey representing India globally while promoting peace and harmony.
“I had long known the Shillong Chamber Choir. Today, meeting William Basaiawmoit, the lead singer and vocalist in Meghalaya, heard of the Choir’s 25-year impeccable journey, representing India as also carrying the message of peace and harmony globally,” Hamidullah said in a post on X.
He added that they had spontaneously planned for the choir to perform in Bangladesh to celebrate India-Bangladesh friendship and shared cultural ties, noting that many Bangladeshi music enthusiasts were awaiting the event.
The choir responded, calling it a productive conversation and expressing hope for future collaboration.
Known for blending Western classical traditions with Indian influences, the Shillong Chamber Choir gained national prominence after winning India’s Got Talent and has performed at several prestigious international platforms. The group also performed for former United States President Barack Obama at Rashtrapati Bhavan during his 2010 visit to India.
If finalised, the concert would mark a cultural outreach initiative and would be seen as a soft diplomacy gesture to reinforce regional harmony.