Jahid Islam: Legendary actor and lawmaker Akbar Hossain Pathan, popularly known as Farooque, passed away on Monday. He was 75.
He breathed his last at 8:30am while undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. Farooque, also a freedom fighter, film producer and businessman, was undergoing treatment in Singapore for a long time. His body will be brought to Dhaka on Tuesday morning.
Celebrities, including actors and filmmakers of the country expressed their deep shock at the demise of Farooque.
Renowned actress Farida Akhtar Babita said, “I had opportunity to share screen with Farooque bhai in many films. He was a wonderful artiste. I was shocked after hearing the news of his death. I never thought I would hear such devastating news in the morning. He will remain alive among the Bengali film lovers.”
“Our Mia bhai (Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque) is no more. As long as he was healthy, he held me dearly. I have a lot of memories with the legendary actor. I lost my favourite actor as well as one of my guardians. Rest in peace,” Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan expressed his feeling in this way on social media.
“People of the country and the whole film industry are saddened today. A pall of gloom descended on the cultural arena. Farooque bhai is no more. His contribution to the film industry is as bright as his life. He will remain in the heart of the heart”, noted actress Jaya Ahsan shared.
Misha Sawdagor shared, “Farewell, Mia bhai.”
“May Allah give Zannat to our legend Farooque bhai,” Omar Sani posted on his Facebook page.
“We lost a banyan tree. The people who were our guardians are leaving one by one. I’m very fortunate to be close to this man. The moment of adda with him was like a class. Legend, be well wherever you are”, Bappy Chowdhury wrote on his Facebook page.
Besides, eminent cultural personalities of the country, including actors, film directors, producers, lyricists, screenwriters mourn the death of the great artiste. Actors Shohel Rana, Rozina Anojona, Aruna Biswas, Amit Hasan, Suborna Mustafa, Ananta Jalil, Ferdous, Symon Sadik, Chanchal Chowdhury, Bubly, Siam Ahmed, Purnima, Riaz Ahmed, Ujjal, Zayed Khan, Shahnaz Khushi, film directors Malek Afsari, Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, Shohanur Rahman Shohan, producer Khorshed Alam Khosru, singers Syed Abdul Hadi, Khurshid Alam, Runa Laila, Sabina Yasmin, Kumar Bishwajit, among others, expressed deep shock at the death of Farooque.
Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association, Bangladesh Film Producer Association, Bangladesh Cine Journalist Association and others film related organisation also expressed deep shock.
Born on August 18 in 1948, Farooque, was an actor, politician, businessman and producer of the country. He was known as ‘Mia Bhai’ to mass people.
Farooque started his career in silver screen through the film ‘Jolchobi’ in 1971. Farooque is one of the most recognisable stars of the classical and golden era of Bangladeshi film industry. The multiple award-winning actor has contributed enormously to shape the Golden Era of the Bangladeshi film industry. ‘Golapi Ekhon Traine’, ‘Lathial’, ‘Abar Tora Manush Ho’, ‘Mia Bhai’, ‘Sareng Bou’, ‘Padma Meghna Jamuna’, ‘Ekhono Onek Raat’; the list of his milestone works continued to adorn his career. Though he shared screen with every leading actress of his time, most of Farooque’s works were associated with the actresses Babita, Rozina and Kabori.
The noted actor appeared in over 150 films in a career spanning more than five decades. Most of his films were commercially and critically successful.
He was the first artiste selected for the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film ‘Lathial’ in 1975 but he declined to receive the award.
Later, he was awarded the Bangladesh National Film Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2016.
Farooque was a ruling Awami League member of Parliament (MP) for Dhaka-17 since 2018.
