Poly Parven: My work is invisible to the eye. You cannot hold it in your hand. You can only hear it. I work with the human voice. I am an instructor. My focus is on the Bangla language. I teach people how to speak correctly. I teach them the art of recitation. I teach them how to present themselves through words. I am associated with organizations like Haatekhori and the Bulbul Lalitakala Academy. This is my world. It is a world of sound, rhythm, and clear communication.
Many people think speaking is natural. We learn to talk as babies. So, why do we need a teacher? This is a common question. But there is a difference between talking and speaking well. In Bangladesh, we have many regional dialects. A person from Chittagong sounds different from a person from Sylhet. This diversity is beautiful. But in professional life, we need a standard. A news presenter cannot use a local dialect. An actor must know how to change their voice. A public speaker must be clear. This is where I come in. I fix the errors. I polish the tone. I help people find their true voice.
You asked about the current situation of my profession in Bangladesh. I will be very honest. I will not paint a fake picture. The reality is mixed. To be blunt, this profession is not yet fully appreciated. It is not “somadrito,” as we say in Bangla. It does not get the respect it deserves.
People value doctors. They value engineers. They value government officers. They see those jobs as real careers. But when someone says they work with voice and recitation, people pause. They see it as a hobby. They think it is something you do in your free time. They do not see it as a serious profession. This mindset hurts us. It makes it hard to earn a proper living. We work hard to master our craft. We spend years learning literature. We practice breathing exercises. We study the grammar of sound. Yet, society often dismisses our effort.
I look at the future of this field with worry. You asked about the job prospects. I am apprehensive. I am alarmed. I use the word “shonkito.” I am afraid for the future of this trade. Why do I feel this way? There are a few reasons.
First, the industry is not organized. There is no fixed salary scale for a voice artist. There is no job security for a recitation teacher. One month you might have work. The next month you might sit idle. It is unpredictable.
Second, the quality is suffering. Everyone wants to be famous quickly. They do not want to learn the basics. They do not want to practice. They think holding a microphone makes them an artist. This brings down the standard of the whole industry. When the quality drops, the respect drops even more.
Also, technology is changing things. We do not know how machines will impact our work. Will computers take over the voice overs? It is a possibility. So, when I think about the job market, I do not see a safe path. I see a rocky road. It is not a career for the weak-hearted. It is not a career for those who want safety.
However, I see the youth. I see the young generation. They are interested. They come to my classes. They want to learn. They watch videos on social media. They see influencers speaking well. They want to be like them. They are attracted to the glamour. They think it is a ticket to fame.
Should they be interested? My answer is yes. But there is a big condition. They should be interested only if they can stand on their own feet. They must be independent.
If a young person wants to join this field to get a job, I say stop. Do not do it. Do not depend on others. Do not wait for a TV channel to hire you. Do not wait for a radio station to give you a slot. Working under others in this profession is risky. It is very risky.
When you work for an organization in this field, you are vulnerable. They can fire you anytime. They might pay you very little. They might not pay you on time. You have no control. Your career is in their hands. That is a dangerous place to be.
But if you can work for yourself, there is hope. The youth are smart. They know technology. They can create their own platforms. They can open a YouTube channel. They can start a podcast. They can offer freelance services online. In that case, they are the boss. They own their content. They own their voice.
If you can build your own brand, the interest is worth keeping. You can earn money. You can get respect. But you have to treat it like a business. You cannot just be an artist. You have to be an entrepreneur.
The Bangla language is our identity. Speaking it beautifully is a duty. We fought for this language in 1952. We gave blood for these words. So, preserving the correct pronunciation is important. It is a noble task.
I try to instill this love in my students. I teach them the rules of pronunciation. I teach them where to pause. I teach them how to throw their voice. It is a physical and mental training. When a student finally recites a poem perfectly, I feel proud. It is a moment of pure art.
But art needs food to survive. An artist needs to pay rent. An artist needs to buy food. That is the struggle. In Bangladesh, we have a habit of asking artists to perform for free. People say, “It is just five minutes of speaking. Why do you need money?” They do not see the twenty years of practice behind those five minutes. This culture must change.
For the young people reading this, take my advice seriously. Come to this profession if you love the language. Come if you have a passion for literature. But do not come with blind eyes. Know the risks. Know that society might not understand your job. Know that money might be tight.
Prepare yourself. Learn the skills perfectly. Do not be average. Average artists will not survive the future. You have to be excellent. You have to be unique. And most importantly, build your own kingdom. Do not be a servant in someone else’s palace.
I continue to teach because I have hope. I hope that one day, the situation will improve. I hope that correct pronunciation will be valued in every office and school. I hope that recitation will be seen as a high art form.
Until then, we keep working. We keep speaking. We keep keeping the language alive. It is a tough fight. But it is a fight worth fighting. My voice is my weapon. My voice is my tool. And for now, despite the worry, I will keep using it. I will keep training the next generation. I will warn them, but I will also welcome them. Because without new voices, the language will go silent. And we cannot let that happen.

– Author is Instructor of Recitation and Pronunciation at Haatekhori & Bulbul Lalitakala Academy