Famous People Born In Dhaka

Fazlur Rahman Khan was a Bangladeshi-American architect and structural engineer. Regarded as the father of tubular designs, Khan is credited with designing several skyscrapers, including the Willis Tower and the John Hancock Center. Thanks to his ingenious use of structural systems, Khan is often referred to as the 20th century's greatest structural engineer and the Einstein of structural engineering.

Ramon Magsaysay Award-winning Indian author Mahasweta Devi is regarded as a gem of the Bengali literary world. She had also been a left-wing social activist, and her works such as Hajar Churashir Maa and Rudali have either tribals or people from the marginalized communities as their protagonists.

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.

The second governor-general and the second prime minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Nazimuddin had a short tenure due to his ineffective handling of the tense situation in his country. Born in Dacca, he had an elite education at Cambridge and was a qualified lawyer. He was also knighted by the British.

Ritwik Ghatak was an Indian film director, playwright, and screenwriter. Best remembered for his depiction of realism, Ghatak was honored with India's fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Shri, in 1970. Ghatak also had a teaching career and is credited with teaching future filmmakers like Adoor Gopalkrishnan and Kumar Shahani. Ritwik Ghatak’s filmmaking style also influenced a generation of filmmakers and screenwriters.

Born to an English mother and a Bangladeshi father, in Dhaka, Monica Ali moved to England at age 3. She grew up to write Brick Lane, a novel about immigrant life, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and also made into a film. She is also associated with various charities.

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.

Popular Bangladeshi actor Joya Ahsan soared to fame with Bangladeshi films such as Chorabali and Debi. She has also appeared in several Indian Bengali films, such as Aborto, Bishorjan, and Rajkahini. Her performances have also earned her awards such as the Zee Cine Award and the Bangladesh National Film Award.

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.

Born in present-day Bangladesh, Bimal Roy rose to be one of the most legendary filmmakers of India. Known for films such as Do Bigha Zamin, Devdas, and Bandini, he had won 11 Filmfare Awards and 2 National Film Awards. He had future icons such as Gulzar and Hrishikesh Mukherjee as his assistants.

Bangladeshi actor Rafiath Rashid Mithila was an academically brilliant student and also a talented dancer in her younger days. She had once exhibited her oil paintings and has penned children’s books, too. She has been associated with BRAC and is married to Indian filmmaker Srijit Mukherji.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Born to a IISc professor father, Kumar Bhattacharyya, or Baron Bhattacharyya, began his career as an apprentice at Lucas Industries. Equipped with a PhD in engineering production, he later established the Warwick Manufacturing Group. An advocate of industrial strategy to bring in investments into the UK, he was also knighted.

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.

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. 

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 politician Dipu Moni initially became a doctor and later also obtained her master of laws. She also scripted history by becoming the first woman foreign minister in South Asia. She is the current minister of education of Bangladesh and has been a lawyer of the Bangladesh Supreme Court.

The daughter of a singer mother, Sabina Yasmin started her music career as a child artiste, appearing in her first stage performance at age 7. She is a 14-time Bangladesh National Film Award-winning playback singer has also won an Ekushey Padak. She was previously married to Indian singer Kabir Sumon.

Anika Kabir Shokh is a Bangladeshi model, dancer, and actress. She achieved national prominence when she was chosen as the brand ambassador of a telecommunication service provider called Banglalink. Anika Kabir Shokh is also famous for appearing in many popular Bengali television dramas such as Friends n Family (FNF), Diba Ratri Khola Thake, and Fifty 50.

Prarthana Fardin Dighi is a Bangladeshi model and film actress. She is best known for her contrbution as a child artist in films like Kabuliwala, Ek Takar Bou, and Chachchu Amar Chachchu. Prarthana Fardin Dighi received three Bangladesh National Film Awards under the Best Child Artist category between 2006 and 2010.

Hridoy Khan is a Bangladeshi singer, musical artist, composer, and actor. Born into a musically inclined family, Khan released his first solo album at the age of 18. He then went on to become a composer and is best known for his association with the Bangladeshi film industry, where he has composed music for films like Chorabali, Television, and Sweetheart. 

Aupee Karim is a Bangladeshi actress, dancer, model, and architect. She is best known for playing Sathi in the 2004 comedy drama film Bachelor, which earned her the prestigious Bangladesh National Film Award under the Best Actress category. Aupee Karim has also won the Meril Prothom Alo Award on three occasions.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury created history when she became the first woman Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad, or the Bangladesh Parliament. A qualified lawyer, she later obtained a PhD in human rights, too. The Bangladesh Awami League member has also served as an advocate of the Bangladesh Supreme Court.

Apart from being a prominent actor of Dhallywood, or the Bangladeshi film industry, Dipjol has also been associated with politics. A Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporter, he served as the ward commissioner of Dhaka. He now heads the Bangladesh Film Artists' Association as its vice president.

Misha Sawdagor is a Bangladeshi actor best known for his portrayal of negative roles. Sawdagor, who has performed in over 700 movies, is a recipient of three Bangladesh National Film Awards. He won the award for his performance in the movies, Boss Number One, Olpo Olpo Premer Golpo, and Bir.

Khulna-born actor Peya Bipasha first gained fame as a participant on the beauty reality show Lux Channel I Superstar and then became a sensation with a Grameen Phone commercial. Though she initially wished to be an army officer, she became a successful TV star instead, with shows such as Osamapto Vhalobasha.

Bangladeshi playback singer Akhi Alamgir had interestingly started her career as a child actor. She also won a Bangladesh National Film Award for her role in Bhat De. Being the daughter of an actor father, she was acquainted with the entertainment world. She later also gained fame as a TV host.

Shamsur Rahman was a Bangladeshi poet, journalist, and columnist. Widely regarded as an important figure in Bengali literature, Rahman was considered Bangladesh's unofficial poet laureate. A prolific writer, he produced over 60 books of poetry collection. Shamsur Rahman was honored with several prestigious awards like the Bangla Academy Literary Award, Adamjee Award, Swadhinata Dibosh Award, Ekushey Padak, and Ananda Puroshker.      

Shila Ahmed is a Bangladeshi actress who achieved national prominence as a child artist. Her portrayal of Opala in the 1994 film Aguner Poroshmoni earned her the prestigious Bangladesh National Film Award under the Best Child Artist category. Ahmed won the award when she was just 12 years old and became one of the most sought-after child artists in Bangladesh.

Zafar Iqbal was a Bangladeshi actor and singer best remembered for his collaboration with actress Bobita, who co-starred with him in over 30 films. Iqbal was also a freedom fighter and played an important role in the Bangladesh War of Independence.

Bappa Mazumder is a Bangladeshi singer, composer, and lyricist. He is best known for his Bengali romantic compositions. A national film award-winning composer, Bappa Mazumder's work has earned him the nickname, The Melody King of Bangladesh.