Aly Zaker (6 November 1944 – 27 November 2020) was a Bangladeshi actor, businessman, director and writer. He was the owner of Asiatic Marketing Communications Limited (Asiatic 3 Sixty).
Zaker served as a freedom fighter during the
1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. He was one of the trustees of
Liberation War Museum
The Liberation War Museum ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জাদুঘর ''Muktijuddho Jadughôr'') is a museum at Agargaon in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, which commemorates the Bangladesh Liberation War that led to the indep ...
in
Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...
.
In 1999 Zakar was awarded the prestigious
Ekushey Padak
Ekushey Padak ( bn, একুশে পদক; lit. "Twentyfirst Award") is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contribut ...
award by the
Government of Bangladesh
The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার — ) is the central executive government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Con ...
, which is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh.
Aly Zaker, who had cancer, died at Dhaka's United Hospital at 6:45am on 27 November 2020. He was being treated for
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.
Background and early life
Zaker was born in
Chittagong
Chittagong ( /ˈtʃɪt əˌɡɒŋ/ ''chit-uh-gong''; ctg, চিটাং; bn, চিটাগং), officially Chattogram ( bn, চট্টগ্রাম), is the second-largest city in Bangladesh after Dhaka and third largest city in B ...
. He spent his childhood in
Kushtia
Kushtia ( bn, কুষ্টিয়া) is a city in the Khulna Division of southwestern Bangladesh. Kushtia is the second largest municipality in Bangladesh and the eleventh largest city in the country. The second largest city in Khulna div ...
. Among four siblings he is the third of his parents – Muhammad Taher and Rezia Taher. Muhammad Taher was a high ranked government official (District Magistrate). He experienced the diversity of life living in different places since his early childhood as his father was in a transferable government job. He spent his early childhood in the district of
Kushtia
Kushtia ( bn, কুষ্টিয়া) is a city in the Khulna Division of southwestern Bangladesh. Kushtia is the second largest municipality in Bangladesh and the eleventh largest city in the country. The second largest city in Khulna div ...
and
Madaripur
Madaripur ( bn, মাদারীপুর ), being a part of the Dhaka Division, is a district in central Bangladesh.
History
Madaripur subdivision was established in 1854 under the district of Bakerganj. In 1873 it was separated from Bakerganj ...
. Later they moved to
Khulna
Khulna ( bn, খুলনা, ) is the third-largest city in Bangladesh, after Dhaka and Chittagong. It is the administrative centre of Khulna District and Khulna Division. Khulna's economy is the third-largest in Bangladesh, contributing $53 b ...
and lived there for couple of years until they moved to
Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...
.
Personal life
Zaker was married to
Sara Zaker
Sara Zaker is a Bangladeshi theatre and television actor, director, business entrepreneur and social activist. She was awarded Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh in 2017.
Early life and education
Zaker was born to Major Salauddin M ...
who is also a media personality, entrepreneur, and social activist. Together they had two children –
Iresh Zaker and
Sriya Sharbojoya. Both Iresh and Sriya are working in Asiatic Marketing Communications Limited as executive director and brand communication manager respectively. While Sara Zaker is the deputy managing director of the company.
Professional life
Acting
Zaker was famed for his theatre acting, with his career spanning many decades. He was founding member of the theatre group,
Nagorik where he worked alongside his wife Sara Zaker and the celebrated actor and politician
Asaduzzaman Noor
Asaduzzaman Noor (born 31 October 1946) is a Bangladeshi actor, politician and activist. He has been a Jatiya Sangsad member from Nilphamari-2 constituency since 2001 and served as the Cultural Affairs Minister during 2014–2019.
Noor work ...
since the 1970s.
In 2018 Zakar played the leading role in a Bangla adaptation of
Bertolt Brecht's 1943 play
The Life of Galileo. Zakar played the role of the 17th Century polymath,
Galileo Galilei
Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath. Commonly referred to as Galileo, his name was pronounced (, ). He was ...
, alongside
Asaduzzaman Noor
Asaduzzaman Noor (born 31 October 1946) is a Bangladeshi actor, politician and activist. He has been a Jatiya Sangsad member from Nilphamari-2 constituency since 2001 and served as the Cultural Affairs Minister during 2014–2019.
Noor work ...
, who played a number of supporting roles. The play ran for a limited number of performances in Dhaka's
Bailey Road.
Business
Zaker was the group chairman of Asiatic 3Sixty, an advertising agency in Bangladesh. It includes Asiatic Marketing Communications Ltd, Talkingpoint, MEC (media agency), Maxus, Asiatic Mindshare, ForthoughtPR, Dhoni Chitra Ltd, 20 Miles, Nayantara Communications, Asiatic Events Ltd, Moitree Printers Ltd., MRC-Mode Ltd.
Work
;Television drama
* ''Pathar Shomoy''
* ''
Bohubrihi
''Bohubrihi'' was one of the most popular drama serials ever aired on Bangladesh Television. The bangla word Bohubrihi means the multiple dimension of anything and here it means the mystery of life. The story was written by famous author, drama ...
''
* ''
Aaj Robibar
Aaj Robibar (Bengali: আজ রবিবার; ''Today's Sunday'') is a Bangladeshi television sitcom created by Humayun Ahmed that was originally aired on BTV in 1997—considered one of the finest works from Humayun Ahmeds filming career. I ...
''
* ''
Nitu Tomaye Bhalobasi''
* ''Ekdin Hothat''
* ''
Nokkhotrer Raat'' (Guest Appearance)
;Theatre
* ''Dewan Gazir Kissa''
* ''Acholayatan''
* ''Chhayanaut''
* ''Kanthal Bagan'' (Cherry Orchard)
;Films
* ''
Agami
Agami ( arz, العجمى ', mostly shortened to , ;, ) is a city in the Alexandria Governorate of Egypt. west of Alexandria, the town is a popular destination for both local Alexandrians and tourists in Giza and Cairo.
Overview
The city sta ...
'' (1984)
* ''
Nodir Naam Modhumoti
''Nodir Naam Modhumoti'' (translated as ''The River Named Modhumoti'') is a 1996 Bangladeshi Bengali language film directed by Tanvir Mokammel. It won 20th Bangladesh National Film Awards for the Best Story, Best Dialogue and Best Male Playback ...
'' (1996)
* "Brishtee"
* ''
Rabeya'' (2008)
Awards
*
Ekushey Padak
Ekushey Padak ( bn, একুশে পদক; lit. "Twentyfirst Award") is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contribut ...
(1999)
* Selim Al-Deen Padak (2017)
* Shaheed Altaf Mahmud Padak (2017)
*
Meril Prothom Alo Awards
''Meril Prothom Alo Awards'' or ''Prothom Alo Awards'' is an annual Bangladeshi awards ceremony honouring cinematic achievements in Bangladeshi Film Industry. The awards are divided into two components, Viewers' Choice and Critics' Choice. The a ...
(2018)
References
1944 births
2020 deaths
Bangladeshi male television actors
Bangladeshi theatre directors
Bangladeshi male film actors
Bangladeshi male stage actors
20th-century Bangladeshi male actors
Recipients of the Ekushey Padak in arts
Notre Dame College, Dhaka alumni
Meril-Prothom Alo Lifetime Achievement Award winners
Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
University of Dhaka alumni
21st-century Bangladeshi male actors
Bangladeshi radio personalities
People of the Bangladesh Liberation War
20th-century Bengalis
21st-century Bengalis
St. Gregory's High School and College alumni
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