Unlike previous four editions at the Army Stadium in Banani, this year’s festival has been organised at the Abahani grounds in Dhanmondi.
After the violinist, the Astana ensemble performed with Berik Batyrkhan as the artistic director and Ernar Nurtazin as the chief conductor.
The Indian pandit and the Kazakh team then played a fusion, which was followed by perdormances from Indian Sarod artist Rajrupa Chowdhury, Indian Khyal specialist Padma Talwalkar, Bangladeshi sitar artist Firoz Khan.
Khyal specialist Supriya Das of Bangladesh then led the Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay students before Rakesh Chaurasia, nephew of the flute legend Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, amused the audience.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Awami League President’s Private Sector Affairs Adviser and Abahani Limited President Salman F Rahman and Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla were also present among others.
This year’s festival has been dedicated to Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman.
Muhith said he felt fortunate to attend all the classical music festivals of Bengal Foundation.
Bengal Foundation Chairman Abul Khair Litu said they organised the festival to make classical music popular among the masses.
He said they would dedicate next year’s festival to Muhith.
The change of venue could not dampen the spirit of the music lovers who started to gather at the Abahani grounds in droves long before the inauguration amid tight security.
A photo exhibition on Bangladesh’s music legends and their lives has also been organised at the venue.
The five-day show ends at 5am every day.