Tributes pour in for Aly Zaker

FE Team | Published: November 27, 2020 22:48:57

Tributes have poured in for Aly Zaker, a towering figure in theatre, television and film arena in Bangladesh, who died in hospital care after a four-year battle with cancer, reports bdnews24.com.
His coffin was taken to the Liberation War Museum in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar where his loved ones, friends and colleagues bid an emotional farewell to the revered artist on Friday.
A member of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra in 1971, Aly was also accorded a guard of honour for his contributions to the Liberation War as a freedom fighter.
Aly was also a trustee of the Liberation War Museum. After his mortal remains were brought to the museum premises around 11:00 am, the trustees of the institution wrapped the coffin with the national flag as his wife Sara Zaker, son Iresh Zaker and long-time friend and former cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor stood in solemn silence.
His daughter Sriya Sharbojoya, however, broke down in tears at the time.
Afterwards, the trustees of Liberation War Museum, representatives of Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Awami League, Dhaka University's Institute of Fine Arts and Chhayanaut, among others, laid wreaths on his coffin.
After a week of treatment at Bangladesh Specialised Hospital in the capital, Aly made a recovery and returned home earlier in the week. But his health subsequently took a downturn after he was infected with the COVID-19 illness. He was taken to United Hospital on Thursday. He died on Friday at the age of 76.
During his childhood, Aly moved from one city to another due to his father Muhammad Taher's job in the civil service. The family finally settled in Dhaka after his father became the secretary of the provincial government.
Aly completed his schooling from St Gregory's High School and Notre Dame College before being admitted to the Department of Social Welfare of Dhaka University. He later became entangled with drama as well as student politics during his time in university. He was involved with the Chhatra Union and remained in the pro-Moscow camp led by Matia Chowdhury after the union split into two factions.
Aly, a popular director and actor, was a part of over 2,000 plays. This includes lead roles in Shakespeare's Macbeth and Tempest and Dewan Gazir Kissa. He was also a part of Man Matti, Syed Shamsul Haque's Nurul Diner Shara Jibon, Khatta Tamasha, Bidogdho Romonikul (based on Molière's Les Femmes Savantes), Nishiddho Pollite (based on Edward Albee's Everything in the Garden). He also played the leading role in a Bangla adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's 1943 play The Life of Galileo.
He acted in more than 300 television plays and serials, including Ghorshowarer Shopno, Pathor Deyal, Baki Itihash, Oboshor, Tothapi, Aj Robibar and Bohubrihi.
Aly joined East Asiatic Advertising Ltd in 1968 and pioneered the concept of modern advertising and consumer research in the then East Pakistan.