Asaduzzaman Noor (born 31 October 1946)[1][2][3] is a Bangladeshi actor, politician and activist. He was a Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Nilphamari-2 constituency during 2001–2024 and served as the Cultural Affairs Minister during 2014–2019.
Asaduzzaman Noor | |
---|---|
আসাদুজ্জামান নূর | |
![]() Noor in Gwangju, South Korea (Oct 2014) | |
Member of the Bangladesh Parliament for Nilphamari-2 | |
In office 10 October 2001 – 6 August 2024 | |
Preceded by | Ahsan Ahmed |
Minister of Cultural Affairs | |
In office 13 January 2014 – 7 January 2019 | |
Prime Minister | Sheikh Hasina |
Preceded by | Hasanul Haq Inu |
Succeeded by | K. M. Khalid |
Personal details | |
Born | Jalpaiguri, Bengal Province, British India | 31 October 1946
Nationality | Bangladeshi |
Political party | Bangladesh Awami League |
Spouse | Shaheen Akhter |
Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
Occupation | Actor, cultural activist, politician, reciter |
Noor worked as an actor in theatre, film and television productions. He is best known for his role as Baker Bhai in the television series Kothao Keu Nei. His other notable television works include Ei Shob Din Ratri, Aaj Robibar, Ayomoy, Bohubrihi and Nokkhotrer Raat. His notable films are Shonkhonil Karagar (1992) and Aguner Poroshmoni (1994).
In 2018, Noor was awarded the Independence Day Award, the highest civilian state award in Bangladesh, by the Government of Bangladesh.[4]
Early life
editNoor was born in Jalpaiguri in West Bengal (now in India) on 31 October 1946 to Abu Nazem Mohammad Ali and Amina.[5] His family migrated to Nilphamari District in East Bengal (now in Bangladesh) in 1948.[6] Both of his parents worked as school teachers.[6] He studied in Nilphamari College, Carmichael College and the University of Dhaka.[6]
Career
editActing
editNoor's acting career began with the theatre. In 1973, he joined the theatre group "Nagorik".[7] He was a receptionist of the paper "Chitraly" at that time and went to take the interview of the prominent actors that time.[7] There he met Aly Zaker, an actor of Nagorik, who asked him to visit the rehearsal of his new team. Later he joined that group. At first, he used to work behind the stage as a prompter.[8] At one point the rehearsal of the drama "Toilo Shonkot" which was written by Rashid Haider was going on, when with only two days remaining until performance day, the leading actor of that drama Abul Hayat got injured. As Noor had learned all the lines in his role as a prompter, Zaker asked Noor to take the part.[9] Following a bit of persuasion from the other cast Noor performed the role and thus began his career as an actor. Noor's first television drama "Rang-er Phanush" was directed by Abdullah al Mamun in 1974.[10][11]
Noor got his break-through in acting during his early days as a Bangladesh Television dramatic artist and has since starred in many television shows and films.
In 2018, Noor returned to the stage with his long-term acting partner, Zaker, in a Bengali adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's play The Life of Galileo about the 17th Century polymath Galileo Galilei. The role of Galileo was played by Zaker with Noor playing a number of supporting roles. The play ran for a limited number of performances in Dhaka's Bailey Road.
Politics
editNoor came to politics during the period of Ayub Khan in 1962.[12] He was a student and had joined the East Pakistan Students' Union, which was a left-sided organisation. Later he became the chairman of the Nilfamari Mohokuma Shomeetee.[citation needed] In 1966, he was admitted to Dhaka University to study law, where he met Natyaguru Nurul Momen as his teacher. He was still a member of the Students' Union. Later he became the cultural secretary of the central committee. He also was the chairman of the Shongskriti Shongshod, a very large cultural organisation of Dhaka University.[citation needed] Noor stayed in the Iqbal Hall (now Johurul Huq hall) which was the centre of student politics during that period. At that time Noor came in contact with the versatile student leaders of that time. Though the followers of different political belief they worked together against the dictatorship of West Pakistan government.
At the eve of Bangladesh Liberation War, Noor left Dhaka and came back to Nilphamari District when he received an order from his political party on 8 March 1971. There he helped the then East Pakistan Rifles (now Border Guards Bangladesh). He crossed the border during the War of Liberation on 8 April. Noor was a freedom fighter under the Sector-6 and helped to organise the war and took training. He also helped to recruit freedom fighters during the nine-month war period. But following the liberation of Bangladesh he grew more distant with active politics. However, later Noor became active in the 1990 Mass Uprising against the military leader Ershad.
In 1996, Noor was asked by the Bangladesh Awami League leader and future Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, to run as an Awami League candidate in the upcoming parliamentary election. However, claiming he was not yet ready, he postponed participation until the subsequent general election in 2001, running in his home-town, Nilphamari. In the 2001 general election Noor was elected as the Member of Parliament for Nilphamari-2, a constituency in the north-west, where he won with 38% of the popular vote. In the subsequent 2008 general election Noor was re-elected, increasing his vote share to 62%. In 2013, his election convoy in Nilphamari was attacked by activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, causing the deaths of five people.[13] Noor ran unopposed in the 2014 general election, as the election was boycotted by the opposition alliance. He was elected for a fourth consecutive time in the 2018 general election for Nilphamari-2.
In 2014, Noor was appointed to the Cabinet by the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, as Minister for the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. He served a full term as Minister but was dropped from the subsequent Cabinet formed in 2019.[14]
Other activities
editNoor is an elocutionist known for his poetry and prose recitation and his oration.[15] He has lent his voice to numerous television shows as a narrator and to advertisements.
Noor is the former Vice Chairman at Asiatic Three Sixty and the former managing director at Desh Television, but resigned from these posts when assuming his role a Minister.[16] He is also a trustee at the Bangladesh Liberation War Museum.
Works
editTelevision
edit- Ei Shob Din Ratri (1985)
- Ayomoy (1988)
- Bohubrihi (1988)
- Kothao Keu Nei (1990)
- Nokkhotrer Raat (1995)
- Priyo Podorekha (1992)
- Aaj Robibar (1999)
- Ke Hotey Chay Kotipoti (2011)
- Osthir Somoy Shostir Golpo: Hotel Albatross (2017)
Films
edit- Hooliya (1984)
- Shonkhonil Karagar (1992)
- Aguner Poroshmoni (1994)[17]
- Chandrokotha (2003)
- Daruchini Dip (2007)
- Biography of Nazrul (2020), as a narrator
- Joy Banglar Dhoni† (2022)
Web series
editAwards
edit- Shahid Munier Chowdhury Award (2006)[9]
- Syed Badruddin Hossain Memorial Award (2015)[7]
- World Theatre Day Award (2015)[18]
- Independence Day Award (2018)
Personal life
editNoor is married to Shaheen Akhter, a professor of paediatric neurology in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and the director of the Institute of Paediatric Neurodisorder and Autism (IPNA).[19] Together they have a son, Shudeepto, and a daughter, Shuprova.[20]
References
edit- ^ আজ আসাদুজ্জামান নূরের জন্মদিন [Asaduzzaman Noor's birthday today]. BD Pratidin (in Bengali). 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- ^ "Asaduzzaman Noor's 72nd birthday today". The Daily Star. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "Asaduzzaman Noor". The Daily Star. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "Asaduzzaman Noor and Shykh Seraj to receive Independence Day Awards". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ "Asaduzzaman Noor -আসাদুজ্জামান নূর Biography". Amarmp. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ a b c অভিনেতা যখন নেতা. The Daily Star (in Bengali). 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ a b c "Momtazuddin Ahmed and Asaduzzaman Noor honoured". Dhaka Courier. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ^ Dasgupta, Priyanka. "Bangla min: City theatre reflects changing times". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ^ a b Kamol, Ershad (29 November 2006). "Asaduzzaman Noor and Faiz Zahir bag awards". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ^ Sarwat, Nadia (25 July 2008). "Asaduzzaman Noor and the leading ladies". The Daily Star. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ "Onek Din Por", Prothom Alo. 8 September 2005.
- ^ "Asaduzzaman Noor". gunijon.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ^ Bilu, Hasibur Rahman. "Asaduzzaman Noor's car attacked, 5 dead". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "The AL big shots dropped". The Daily Star. 6 January 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ "ASADUZZAMAN NOOR TURNS 70". The Daily Star. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ "Asiatic clarifies". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Dibyajyoti. "I miss all the fun: Asaduzzaman Noor". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ^ "World Theatre Day observed in Dhaka, Ctg". New Age. Dhaka. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ^ "Institute of Paediatric Neurodisorder and Autism (IPNA) - BSMMU". www.bsmmu.edu.bd. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ "Shuprova Tasneem Ties the Knot!". The Daily Star. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.