French President Emmanuel Macron graced the private studio of Rahul Ananda, a musician, lyricist and instrumentalist of the popular band 'Joler Gaan' in the city's Dhanmondi area on Sunday (Sep 10) night. After joining the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the French President went to Rahul's studio and played a musical instrument and learnt how to play Ektara, a popular one-stringed instrument, from Rahul, local media reported.
Rahul and painter his wife Urmila Shukla set up the studio at their rented house in the city, where Macron was scheduled to spend 40 minutes. But the French President spent over one and a half hours there, enjoying music and chatting with the Jaler Gaan artistes.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud accompanied Macron while other artistes, including Ashfika Rahman, Kamruzzaman Swadhin and Afroza Sara, were also present.
"He (Macron) gifted me a pen and asked to write songs and poems on nature and life with this pen. He will listen to that music one day," Rahul Ananda said.
Rahul performed songs from Lalan, Pratul Mukherjee, Abbas Uddin Ahmed and Abdul Alim while Macron was seen listening to the music attentively.
During the visit to Bangladesh, Macron engaged in a blend of cultural exchange, political dialogues and culinary exploration.
He left Dhaka on Monday afternoon after wrapping the visit.
