Sub-genres of Bangladeshi folk music

Baul:- It is mainly inspired by Lalon Folir and almost exclusively performed by hermits.

Bhandari:- The devotional music from the  south (are mainly Chittagong).

Bhatiali:- The music of the fishermen and boatman, almost tied by the common raga (mode) sung solo.

Bhawaiya:- A song of bullock-cart drivers of the North (Rangpur).

Gombhira:- A song (that came from Chapai Nawabganj, in the Northwest) which is performed with a particular distinctive rhythm and dance with two performers who are always personifying a man  and his grandfather, talking on a topic to raise as a social awareness.

source of picture: chandrakantha.com

Hason Raja:- A devotional songs written by music composer Hason Raja (from Sylhet, northeastern side of Bangladesh near Assam) that is currently famous as dance music.

Jaari:- A song  which involve musical battle between two groups.

Jatra Pala:- Song that is associated solely with plays (which is performed on stage). It usually involves colourful presentations of historical themes.

Kirtan:- It is a devotional song that depicting love of Hindu god Krishno and his (best known) wife, Radha.

Kavigan:- The poems sung with simple music which is usually presented on the stage as a musical fight between poets.

Lalon:- It is the best known of all folk songs and the most import sub-genre of Baul songs, and almost entirely attributed to the spiritual writer and composer, Lalon Fokir of Kushita. He is known to all in west Bengal of Indian too (western Bangladesh, near the border with the West Bengal).

Baul - The Baul is the most commonly accepted category of Bangladeshi folk songs. It is performed by hermits who are followers of Sufism in Bangladesh. The recent day Sufis earn mainly from preforming their music. The Baul songs are incorporated with simple world which express the song in deeper meanings involving creation, society, lifestyle and human feelings. These songs are performed with little musical support to the main carrier, the vocal.

The instruments used include the Ektara (one string), Dotara (two strings), ba (n)shi (country flute made from bamboo) and also cymbals. In the present time, Baul geeti has lost popularity due to urbanization and westernization.

Adhunik - Adhunik sangeet mean modern songs. While to outsiders, this may seem like a very big name, it has particular incentive.

Bengali music traditionally has been divided mainly by the region and the creators of the musical genre, such as the Nazrul geeti (which is written and composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam), ghombhira (unique to a particular place in Bangladesh) etc. however, this block the ability to classify any music that failed to fit into any of class. In the time just before the Indian Independence, many new minor musical genres appeared, mainly in the form of playback songs for movies. A miscellaneous category, Adhunik sangeet, was also created.