Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his son, Shahzaman Khan, were formally felicitated at the Houses of Parliament during an event celebrating cultural diplomacy and musical excellence, which brought together communities from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

The ceremony was organised by British-Asian artist Raja Kaasheff to honour Ustad Rahat and his son in recognition of their enduring musical legacy and contribution to South Asian music.

A major highlight of the event was the official unveiling of the cross-border Bangla duet “Prem Piyasha – Reloaded (Thirst for Love)”, a collaboration spanning the UK, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. The project features Rahat alongside Rubayat Jahan, blending classical Qawwali roots with contemporary romantic expression.

The event drew a distinguished audience, including Ruth Cadbury, Ritu Prakash Chhabria, Asif Akbar, Tariq Ahmad, lawyer Farhan Farani, Baroness Uddin, Afzal Khan, Apsana Begum, Vijay Sharma, alongside numerous Lords, MPs and prominent community figures.

Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan thanked Raja Kaasheff and Rubayat Jahan for their collaboration and praised their artistic contribution. He said working with them has always been a pleasure and described “Prem Piyasha” as a significant musical work. He also thanked parliamentarians for honouring him and his son.