Introduction Few years ago, people arranged folk music concert under the open sky in every village at night. Singer sang various types of folk song there. They expressed their hope, sorrows, way of living and happiness in its. This music was the part of their life. Folk music is always related with life. Folksongs express the elemental passions, impulses and emotions of such people as cultivators, fishermen, boatmen, weavers, potters and blacksmiths. These people compose, tune and sing the songs simultaneously while they work. Bangladesh is very rich in their folk music. The Bengali folk songs and musical heritage is astonishingly one of the most classical music in Indian sub-continent .These are very ancient .Its depth, variety and characteristic is unique. The City people; specially the young were fond of it .But now they are adapting with western music and so the popularity of our traditional folk is decreasing day by day. It might be exist within 100 years. So it is on an extreme risk now. Therefore, this research paper’s aim to find out whether folk music really unpopular. It will attempt to discover, first, which types of song young generation likes to listen and second, reason behind the unpopularity. In addition, this research will give some recommendations to protect folk music. Key word: Folk music, Western music, Mass people Folk music: A consistent definition of traditional folk music is elusive. The terms folk music, folk song, and folk dance are comparatively recent expressions. They are extensions of the term folk lore, which was coined in 1846 by the English antiquarian William Thomas to describe folk music as, “the traditions, customs, and superstitions of the uncultured classes.” (Click This Link) Literature Review: Several researches have already been done about the similar topic. These researches have got some alarming report about folk music. Pavel Islam; a folklore researcher has shown that, 45% city people are not concern about folk culture. ‘Lokoj” a folklore magazine, published that 30% school children who live in cities do not know about Bangali traditional festivals like “Pahela Boishakh, Nobaanno or Chitra sonkranti” etc. (Lokoj: April, 2012 issue) “Sorgom” a Music based magazine conducted some seminars about Folk music. They tried to find out some causes for the existence of folk. They identified availability of “hindi album” is the main treat for folk music. Background of Folk music: Folk music reflects the lives of common people. Through this music people give voice to their feelings. They cry about their sorrows and shout about their happiness. They express their beliefs and remember their ancestors. They tell about the things they have seen and heard and felt in their lives. Through folk music people preserve their history. Not the history of textbooks, but the history of common people. In Bangladesh folk song became so stronger and popular since many years ago. It became possible by the contribution of some singers of our country. Such Lalan Shah, Siraj Saiah, Hasan Raja, Abbasuddin, Radha Romon, Durbin Shaih, Shachin Dev Burman. ( Mobarak H.K ,1988:34) Bangladesh has a good number of musical instrument originally of her own.These instruments use for folk music  Ektara  Dotara  Bashi  Mandira  Khanjani  Sarinda Dugdugi ,Kumkum , Zura, Jhunjhuny are Popular instrument for folk music. These instruments are easy to make and these are very cheap. (Goswami, 2004:215) In Bangladesh folk music has great variety, with songs being composed on the culture, festivals, and views of life, natural beauty, rivers and rural and riverine life. These songs are also about social inequality and poverty, about the material world and the supernatural. Mystical songs have been composed. Some of popular forms of folk music are: Bhatiali: Composed and sung by boatmen of East Bengal. This branch is a fitting reminder that Bengal is the land of rivers. The beauty and tranquility of passing villages, flowing murmur of water, whistling wind on the sail and the rhythms of baitha (oar) can only bring a touch of poetic creativity to lonely hearts - away from home, separated from the loved ones.. The thoughts become words, words become lyric and rowing rhythms help to add a tune or two. The river banks, the destination, look close yet far - the longing seems forever. Memorable compositions survive generations, new ones replace the old - creative inspirations never will end. Bhawaiya: Composed and sung in the main by cart drivers Called as “gaarhial vai”. It is a popular folk music in Northern Bangladesh, especially Rangpur District . Here, the cravings of the separated and lonely hearts; metaphorically, often a newly-wed daughter missing her parents or her lover asks for gaarhial bhai's favor to take her message of loneliness to her parents or her lover One of the most successful singers of the Bahawaiyan tradition was Abbasuddin Ahmed. Kabigaan: Kabigaan are songs written and composed by Kobials (folk poets). The instinctive folk poets sing or recite their compositions in front of appreciative audiences. Baul song: The Baul songs are a much specialised branch of Bengali folk songs. Baul song has a kind of hippie-like attraction to it. It is unique in itself, yet it seems to hold in it a lot of elements of the other branches of Bengali folk musical tradtions as noted above. Because of its unique appeal or affliction, we have presented it as a distinct folk practice. Characteristic of Bangladeshi folk songs: It is composed by rural the people. This song may be sung in groups or individually. No regular practice is required for folk music. It is composed and performed by illiterate or semi-illiterate people. It is a spontaneous expression in easy language, local dialect, and simple tune. It uses simple and natural rhythms.It contains a strong emotive expression of human love and separation. Research Method It is a quantitative type of research because it does not deals with ratio and numbers. We used survey methodology. This Research conducted a survey among 20 students and supplied multiple Questionnaires. We chose the students randomly. Result: At present the condition of folk song in our country is very poor. Now a day rich traditional folk song inevitable influenced by western music and culture. Band and pop music is getting popular in country. Now the modern Bangla song and also the folk song sung in western melody. TV has become the major source of entertainment. Bad kind of remixes and music videos are shown at the TV. Because of that we forget and neglect our rich traditional folk song. In our survey we get that only 10% listed folk song as their 1st choice.and 30% listed as their 3rd choise. Types of song 1st choice 2nd choice 3rd choice 4th choice Modern Bangla 20% 30% 10% 40% Hindi 40% 60 % 0 0 Classical Bangla 0 10% 30% 20% Folk 10% 0 30% 20% Western music 30% 0 10% 10% This Data has shown that only 10% people select folk music as their first choice when 40% of them select Hindi song as their 1st choice. So this is an alarming report for folk music. Graph: Reason Behind the unpopularity: This research has identified some of the reason behind the growing unpopularity of folk music. These research identified the followings …. Growing Popularity of Western music: Now a day’s people are more interested about western rock music. They are enjoying the western hip hop song with modern instruments .Specially young generation is highly attracted by band and pop songs. Most of them think that, westernization is the demand of 22th century. So they practice western music rather folk music. o Internet: Internet has converted the world into a Village. So culture is also open now. Youngers access internet and introduced with different culture and songs. They are losing their interest about Bangla folk. o Available of Indian music: Bangladesh is a big market of Indian music. India is a large multicultural nation. Hindi musical album is available in Bangladeshi market .People buy Indian album in cheap rate rather Bangla folk album. So people traditional folk music has become unpopular. o Capitalized Media: The television channels and radio are much more capitalized. They don’t patronize the folk music. They provide only a few time for folk music. o Role of Our music industry: Music industry of Bangladesh is highly depends on modern song. The only realize modern, pop and band album. Only a few audio companies patronized only a few folk music albums in a year. o Lake of folk Concert: Folk music based concerts are decreasing day by day. It is only arranged only at “Pahela boishakh” and some other festivals. o Financial crisis of folk singer: Folk singers are not financially established. Earning facilities from singing is very poor. They cannot maintain their livelihood. They don’t get any financial support. So folk singers don’t take music as a profession. o Lake of institute: The national wide cultural institutes like “Bangla Academy”,Silpaakola Academy are not much concern to preserve the folk music. A folklore institute has not established yet. The Researchers are not interested to work with folk music. o Lake of Consciousness: Young generation is not much concern about our cultural heritage. They build up with western culture. Their aim is to be modern. They think practice westernization is modernization. So they neglect folk song. Since music is so much a part of our lives whether we are aware of it or not; since traditional music is so important to us whether we are aware of it or not, we should definitely embrace it, treasure it and preserve it with our best efforts. Suggestions: This research mentions some suggestion to protect the folk music. If we want to get back our golden era we have to do some special work. Firstly , A lot of concert of folk music should be arranged.secondly , Consciousness should be built up among the young generation about folk song. Government has to increase its attempts for folk music. Government Should established a permanent academy for folk music. The number of the sponsor should be increased. The music companies need to increase their interest about folk music. Most of the folk singers feel financial crisis so it is necessary to ensure the financial stability of the folk singers and honored them with judgment .In additionally give them chances to perform not only in the country but also outside the country. Society should Identify new folk singer and patronize them. Television and Radio Should provide more programs based on folk music. Government should take immediate step for Protecting the real lyrics and tunes. The sensor board should make law about remixes. Conclusion: Folk music plays a crucial role in passing down cultural heritages or for the new generations to recognize to which they belong. Keeping ones uniqueness of music would help the world to take the first step to understand ones country. Bangladesh is very rich in their folk music. It is the country of Lalon, hason and so many worldwide recognized folk singers. But now it is in danger. Only a few persons like folk music now. If it will continue it may be abolished within 100 years as the folk researches told. So the practice of folk music should be increased. Government and Non- Government Cultural organizations should play significant role to flourish Bangla folk song. Mass media should take steps for popularizing Bangladeshi folk song. We strongly believe the Golden era of folk music will bring soon. References: 1. Goswami karunamoy, (2004) Evolution of Bengali Music, Paris: Omni books 2. Mostofa M.N. (1977) Our Music-A historical Study, Chittagong: Boi Ghar 3. Donald & Ciaude V. Palisca,(2000) A History of western music,Norton: 4. Mobarak,H.K.(1988) ,Music and its study ,Dhaka: Academy Publishers. 5. Lokoj: 2012, April issue: Dhaka. .