With countries like America, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Germany and France dominating the world forum, third world nations seems to have taken a corner. But that is just an illusion of the mind, for if you look intently, these nations are a powerhouse of talent, having a forte like none others. And while talking of nations like these, Bangladesh tops the list. It may seem insignificant or petty but its talented pool of men and women have helped the country make its own ground in the world platform. And it is to those heroes that we dedicate this section.
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The Rebel Poet of Bengal Kazi Nazrul Islam is remembered for his vast body of literary work, including poems and songs written during the British Raj, mostly laced with socio-political overtones. His songs, known as Nazrul Geeti, are the staple for any Bengali household. He is also Bangladesh’s national poet.
Ziaur Rahman was a Bangladeshi Army officer and politician. He served as the President of Bangladesh from 21 April 1977 to 30 May 1981. He played a major role in the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. Ziaur Rahman is also credited with founding the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Md. Abdul Hamid is a Bangladeshi politician and the current President of Bangladesh. Hamid, who was sworn in as the president in 2013, is the longest serving Bangladeshi president. From 2009 to 2013, he was the speaker of the National Parliament.
Bangladeshi novelist and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed boasted of a PhD in polymer chemistry and had even taught at the University of Dhaka. His mostly depicted the struggle of the middle-class through his works. His films such as Aguner Poroshmoni won him multiple National Film Awards. He died battling colon cancer.
Tahsan Rahman Khan is a Bangladeshi model, actor, singer, composer, and songwriter. He also serves as a professor at BRAC University in Dhaka. He is credited with composing Alo Alo, which has become one of the most famous songs in Bangladesh. A multi-talented personality, Tahsan Rahman Khan has also appeared as a judge at popular events like Miss Universe Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi actor Salman Shah started his career with the film Keyamat Theke Keyamat, a remake of the hit Indian film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. His mysterious death at the early age of 24 was initially suspected to be a murder but was later ruled as a suicide.
Bangladeshi actor Chanchal Chowdhury began his acting career with theater, joining the Aranyak Natyadal, though his parents wanted him to be an engineer. The 2-time Bangladesh National Film Award winner has been appreciated for his performances in films such as Moner Manush, Aynabaji, and Monpura.
Lalon, also known as Lalon Fakir, or Lalon Shah, was an iconic Baul saint, considered a symbol of Bengali culture. Since his poems and songs belonged to the oral tradition, they weren’t published during his lifetime. Eventually, Rabindranath Tagore published about 200 songs from one of Lalon’s manuscripts.
A much-acclaimed veteran Bangladeshi actor, Mosharraf Karim began his career on stage as an eighteen year old boy, before debuting on television and films. Since then, he has been appearing in numerous film and television productions, bagging several best actor awards for his performances.
Allauddin Khan was an Indian multi-instrumentalist and composer best remembered as a sarod player. He was also one of the 20th century's most notable music teachers in Indian classical music. Allauddin Khan was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship for his immense contribution to Indian music.
Ayub Bachchu was a Bangladeshi singer, songwriter, guitarist, and composer. A rockstar, Bachchu is credited with founding one of the most popular and successful Bangladeshi bands of all time, Love Runs Blind. A pioneer of Bangladeshi Pop music, Bachchu is also counted among the greatest Bangladeshi singers of all time. In 2017, he received the Tele Cine Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bangladeshi actor Manna is also known as the Dhallywood Yuvraj and the Mahanayak of Dhaliwood. His role in the film Bir Soinik won him a National Film Award. He also headed the Bangladesh Film Actors Association as its general secretary. His film Ammajan remains one of the Bangladeshi film industry’s most successful films.
Legendary Bangladeshi actor Abdur Razzak, also known as Nayak Raj Razzak, is best remembered for his hit films such as Boro Bhalo Lok Chhilo and Jibon Theke Neya. The 5-time Bangladeshi National Film Award winner was also the first Bangladeshi actor to be named a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador.
Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is a Bangladeshi author, physicist, activist, and academic. Iqbal is credited with introducing and popularizing science fiction novels and stories in the Bengali language. Over the years, he has won several prestigious literary awards, such as the Khalekdad Chowdhury Literary Award, Sheltech Literary Award, Uro Child Literary Award, and Md. Mudabber-Husne ara literary Award.
Shakib Khan, also known as the King of Dhallywood, or King Khan, is a Bangladeshi actor who first soared to fame with the film Anonto Bhalobasha and then established himself as the highest-paid Bangladeshi actor. His marriage to co-actor Apu Biswas was kept a secret for years.
Fazle Hasan Abed was a Bangladeshi social worker credited with founding one of the largest non-governmental organizations in the world, BRAC. For his significant contributions to social development, Abed was honored with many national and international awards, including the Laudato Si' Award and LEGO Prize. In 2014 and 2017, he was included in Fortune magazine's World's 50 Greatest Leaders list.
Five-time Bangladesh National Film Award winner Ferdous Ahmed has been a successful actor in both the Bangladeshi and Indian Bengali film industry. He is known for hits such as Dada Thakur and Ek Cup Cha. He has also campaigned for West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
A freelance music video model and actor, Hero Alom began his career as salesman, selling CDs and videos. Currently involved with satellite TV business, he started making music videos as a hobby and became popular. Concurrently, he also acts in films, mostly in side roles.
Despised as traitor in Pakistan and hailed as martyr in Bangladesh, Bangladesh-born Pakistani air force officer Matiur Rahman died while attempting to defect to Bangladesh with a Lockheed T-33 jet trainer during the Bangladesh Liberation War. For thirty-five years, his mortal remains lay buried in fourth-class-employees’ graveyard in Pakistan before it could be reburied with full military honor in Dhaka.
Bangladesh National Film Award winner Humayun Faridi had initially started studying organic chemistry but had to abandon his studies due to the Bangladesh Liberation War. Starting his acting career with theater, he later acted in series such as Songsoptok and Kothao Keu Nei, and films such as Din-Mojur.
Bangladeshi singer-songwriter James, also known to his fans as Guru, is the lead vocalist of the rock band Nagar Baul. He has also performed Hindi tracks for films such as Life in a... Metro and Gangster. A talented photographer, he has also contributed to many of his album covers.
Bangladeshi actor Siam Ahmed began his career as an Airtel Bangladesh model. He later made his acting debut with the Bangladeshi telefilm Bhalobasha 101 and then soared to fame with films such as Bishwoshundori, winning the Bangladesh National Film Award. Educated in England, he is a qualified lawyer, too.
Award-winning Bangladeshi poet Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah began writing poems early in his life, publishing his first two collections long before he acquired his master’s degree from the University of Dhaka. Remembered for his revolutionary as well as romantic poems, he died of depression and substance abuse, leaving a suicide poem, Bhalo Achi Bhalo Theko, for his ex-wife Taslima Nasrin.
Habib Wahid is a Bangladeshi singer and composer. He is best known for winning the Bangladesh National Film Award under the Best Music Director category for his work in the 2011 film Projapoti: The Mysterious Bird. Habib Wahid has also received five Meril Prothom Alo Awards under the Best Singer category so far.
Tall and handsome, Ziaul Faruq Apurba is a very popular Bangladeshi actor, who has been appearing in numerous television drama series since 2006, starring in his only film in 2015. Known simply as Apurba, he is also a successful model and currently owns a production house, debuting as a director with a telefilm in 2012 through his own organization.
Bangladeshi-British actor Dino Shafeek was trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and later gained fame with his roles in It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Mind Your Language. He has also been associated with several charities. He is best remembered for his iconic role of Chaiwallah Muhammad.
Hussain Muhammad Ershad was a Bangladeshi politician and Army Chief. From 1983 to 1990, he served as the president of Bangladesh. After seizing power as head of the army in 1982, Ershad declared himself president the following year. His regime is widely regarded as an era of military dictatorship.
Bangladeshi TV actor Ahammed Fazle Rabbi better known as Afran Nisho, soared to fame with the TV series Jog Biyog. The Tangail-born actor had started his career as a model and later also appeared in web series such as Morichika and Beauty and the Bullet.
Andrew Kishore was a Bangladeshi playback singer who sang over 15000 songs, including many iconic tracks such as Achhe Baki Olpo and Jiboner Golpo. One of the most popular and celebrated playback singers in the history of Bangladesh music industry, Andrew Kishore received the prestigious Bangladesh National Film Award under the Best Male Playback Singer category on eight occasions.
Born to a musician and filmmaker father in Bangladesh, Shayan Chowdhury Arnob studied in Shantiniketan, where he also met his wife, Bengali singer Sahana Bajpaie. He is known for his signature blend of Rabindrasangeet, pop ballads, and folk songs. He has also sung for films such as Monpura.
Known for his roles in films such as Ma O Chhele and Desh Premik, Bangladeshi actor Alamgir is also a 9-time winner of the Bangladesh National Film Award. Born to a film producer, he was no stranger to films as a child. He is also the husband of famed Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila.
Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is best known for his critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as Television, Third Person Singular Number, and No Bed of Roses. He also launched a youth film movement named Chabial and is known for merging realism and escapism through his works.
Zillur Rahman was a Bangladeshi politician best remembered for his service as the President of Bangladesh from 12 February 2009 to 20 March 2013. He played an important role in the Bengali language movement and Bangladesh Liberation War before establishing himself as an influential politician. In 2013, Zillur Rahman became the third Bangladeshi president to die in office.
Sajeeb Wazed is a Bangladeshi politician and businessman. An important member of the Awami League, Wazed is credited with masterminding the Digital Bangladesh initiative. The initiative was part of Awami League's political manifesto, Vision 2021. He also operates a US-based firm called Wazed Consulting Inc., where he is serving as the president.
