Aly Zaker, an iconic figure in the theatre, cinema,television drama and all cultural pursuits of the country breathed his last on Friday after four year battle with cance.
Aly passed away at Specialized Hospital in Dhaka at 6:40am Friday. He was 76.
For his contribution to Bangladesh theatre, he was awarded with the state award of Ekushey Padak in 1999.
Aly was the president of Nagorik Natya Sampradaya and directed and acted in several plays for Nagorik. He adapted plays by Moliere, Brecht, Zuckmayer, Chekov, Albee and Shakespeare.
Aly, a popular director and actor, was a part of over 2,000 plays. These include 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 over 300 television plays and serials, including Ghorshowarer Shopno, Pathor Deyal, Baki Itihash, Oboshor, Tothapi, Aj Robibar and Bohubrihi.
Aly studied sociology at Dhaka University. He started his career in Karachi in 1967 with WS Crawfords Ltd, a UK-based advertising agency. Aly joined East Asiatic Advertising Ltd in 1968 and pioneered the concept of modern advertising and consumer research in the then East Pakistan.
Aly left behind wife Sara Zaker, a media personality, entrepreneur and social activist, and their children Iresh Zaker and daughter Sriya Sharbojoya.