Sara Zaker is a Bangladeshi theatre and television actor, director, business entrepreneur and social activist. She was awarded

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 ...

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 ...

in 2017.

Early life and education

Zaker was born to Major Salauddin Mohammad Amin and Alia Amin, a former school teacher. She was nicknamed ''Chixie''. Zaker completed her bachelor's and master's from the

University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (also known as Dhaka University, or DU) is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the oldest university in Bangladesh. The university opened its doors to students on July 1st 1921. Currently i ...

in English literature. She was also trained at the British Theater Institute in 1981.

Career

Actress

Zaker joined ''Nagorik Natya Sampraday'', a theater troupe, just after finishing secondary school in 1972. Her first production with the troupe, ''"Baki Itihash"'' premiered in February 1973. She went on to perform in ''Bidogdho Romonikul'', ''Nishiddho Polli'', ''Shot Manusher Khoje'' (1976), ''Dewan Gazi'r Kissa'' and ''"Naam-Gotroheen: Manto'r Meyera"'' (2014). Zaker directed

Ariel Dorfman Vladimiro Ariel Dorfman (born May 6, 1942) is an Argentine-Chilean-American novelist, playwright, essayist, academic, and human rights activist. A citizen of the United States since 2004, he has been a professor of literature and Latin American ...

's '' Death and the Maiden'' and

Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

's ''

The Sea Gull ''The Sea Gull'' is a 1968 British-American drama film directed by Sidney Lumet. The screenplay by Moura Budberg is adapted and translated from Anton Chekhov's classic 1896 play ''The Seagull''. The Warner Bros.-Seven Arts release was filmed at ...

''. Zaker writes a column – ''Shubondhu Shomipeshu'' for newspaper ''

Prothom Alo ''The Daily Prothom Alo'' ( bn, প্রথম আলো) is a daily newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka in the Bengali language. It is the largest circulated newspaper in Bangladesh. According to National Media Survey 2018, conducte ...

''. She is anchoring ''Ami Ekhon Ki Korbo'', a talk show airing on

Banglavision Banglavision ( bn, বাংলাভিশন) is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel owned by Shamol Bangla Media Limited, commencing official broadcasts on 31 March 2006. Its name is a portmanteau of " ban ...

channel. She conducts a radio show on Radio Shadhin 92.4fm named ''Tumi Bolo Amra Shunchhi''.

Entrepreneur

Zaker's business career began in 1995 in the field of market research. She is working as the project head of Nayantara Communications since its inception in 2004. Nayantara is the co-producer of

Sesame Workshop Sesame Workshop (SW), originally known as the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), is an American nonprofit organization that has been responsible for the production of several educational children's programs—including its first and best-know ...

New York in producing ''Sisimpur'', the

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

edition of the ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) a ...

''. She is the managing director of Asiatic 360, director of Asiatic Events Marketing Limited, and the managing director of Ddhoni Chitra Ltd.

Activist

Zaker has led many campaigns and projects related to both male and female rights, women health, family planning and environmental issues. Some notable projects she led are – * Accelerating progress towards Maternal and Neonatal mortality and Morbidity reduction

UNICEF UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...

– 2009. * Advocacy Activity for FP & RH through print and electronic Media

UNFPA The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, is a UN agency aimed at improving reproductive and maternal health worldwide. Its work includes developing national healthcare strategies ...

– 2009 * "Jibon-O-Jibika"

Save the Children The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, is an international non-governmental organization established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic ...

– USA. * Male & Female Reproductive Health Campaign (Marie Stopes Clinic Society). * "Safe Water Campaign" (IDA). * Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) Communication Campaign

- Bangladesh. * Arsenic Mitigation Campaign

- Bangladesh. * Emergency Preparedness Awareness

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...

– WHO * Prevention and Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking in Bangladesh

International Organization for Migration The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a United Nations agency that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. The IOM was ...

– IOM. * Awareness on Human Trafficking

– IOM. * Safe Migration

– IOM. * Comprehensive information campaign to enhance public awareness on safe migration in Bangladesh

– IOM. * Women Migration Campaign

– IOM. * Founder member of the Board of 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 ...

of Bangladesh. * Secretary of Nagorik Natya Sampradaya (Workshop & Training Organization & Cultural Affairs). * Secretariat-In-Charge Dramatic Theater Committee, I.T.I (International Theater Institute). * Presidium member Dramatic Theater Committee, I.T.I (International Theater Institute). * Special Honorable Member of Bangladesh Group Theater Federation. * Former Chairperson of Secretariat Body, Bangladesh Group Theater Federation.

Personal life

Zaker was married to

Aly Zaker 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 Bangl ...

until 2020, his death. Aly was an actor, a writer and a business entrepreneur. Zaker has two children,

Iresh Zaker Iresh Zaker ( bn, ইরেশ যাকের; born 6 November 1976) is a Bangladeshi advertising executive, television and film actor and a musician. He is the managing director of Asiatic 360, a marketing and advertising company, owned and oper ...

and Sriya Sharbojaya. Sriya is associate executive director of Asiatic EXP and Iresh is executive director of Asiatic MCL and an actor. She has a personal blog which i
sarazaker.me

Works

;Stage plays ;Serial dramas *

Ayomoy ''Oyomoi'' ��য়োময়(''The man who would not die'') was a popular Bangladeshi television serial, written by Humayun Ahmed and directed by Nawazish Ali Khan, originally aired on Bangladesh Television in 1990–91. Blending fact with fic ...

;Dramas * Matir Pinjirar Majhe * Jochnar Ful * Ekti Prithibi, Ekti Manush * Somota Chai ;Films *

Emiler Goenda Bahini ''Emiler Goenda Bahini'' is a 1980 Bangladeshi feature film directed by Badal Rahman. It is based on German writer Erich Kästner's 1929 novel ''Emil and the Detectives''. The film won Bangladesh National Film Awards in 5 categories including Best ...

(1980) *

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) * Itihash Konna (2000) * Shilalipi (The Inscription) (2004) *

Ontarjatra ''Ontarjatra'' ( bn, অন্তর্যাত্রা; ''Homeland'') is a 2006 Bangladeshi drama film directed by Tareque Masud and Catherine Masud. Upon its release on 2006, the film achieved critical and commercial success. It won for Best ...

(2006) ;Produced * Ichche Holo (TV Series) (2009) *

Chuye Dile Mon ''Chuye Dile Mon'' ( bn, ছুঁয়ে দিলে মন) is a 2015 Bangladeshi romantic film, produced by Asiatic Ddhoni-Chitra Limited & Monforing Limited. The film is directed by Shihab Shaheen and features a cast that includes Arifin S ...

(2015) ;Voice *

The World According to Sesame Street ''The World According to Sesame Street'' is a 2006 documentary film created by Participant Productions, looking at the cultural impact of the children's television series ''Sesame Street'', and the complexities of creating international adaptation ...

(2006)

Awards

* Sequence Award for Acting (1975) * Anannya Shirsho Dosh (1995) * Bishishtho Nattojon – Loko Natto Goshthi (2014) * Inspiring Change * Srijan Shamman Award * Badruddin Hossain Memorial Award (2016) *

(2017)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaker, Sara Living people University of Dhaka alumni Bangladeshi television actresses Bangladeshi stage actresses Bangladeshi businesspeople Recipients of the Ekushey Padak 20th-century Bangladeshi actresses Year of birth missing (living people)