Long before he stood at the centre of Bangladesh’s political stage, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was winning applause on a very different one.
The newly sworn-in president once spent his days immersed in theatre, recitation, cultural programmes and adda — a lesser-known chapter of his life that filmmaker, producer, storyteller and screenwriter Chatku Ahmed has now brought back into the spotlight.
Shortly after Mirza Fakhrul took oath as Bangladesh’s 23rd president on Friday (21 August), Chatku shared several photographs with him on Facebook, accompanied by memories of their association nearly five decades ago.
Chatku recalled meeting Fakhrul in 1972–73, when he was working as a section officer at the Thakurgaon Irrigation Department. Both were involved in cultural activities and regularly met at the public library.
“We would spend our time chatting, taking part in various cultural programmes and enjoying adda,” Chatku wrote.
Their cultural circle also took them to the stage. Chatku recalled organising a play at Balaka Cinema Hall with Nargis, the younger sister of celebrated actress Anowara, who was then a theatre actress and later appeared in films.
According to Chatku, Fakhrul was an accomplished stage performer and reciter.
“Alamgir sahib, who had a strong voice and an impressive presence, used to play the hero and perform recitations. The halls would erupt in applause,” he recalled.
Their paths eventually separated when Chatku moved to Dhaka for work. Years later, they met again at the Samarkand Lemongrass restaurant in Gulshan, where Chatku learned that his old acquaintance had become a minister.
They crossed paths again at an event at Zia Shishu Academy, by which time Fakhrul had become BNP secretary general. Chatku recalled that Fakhrul recognised him in the audience, invited him onto the stage and presented him with a special honour.
The old theatre connection surfaced again recently when Fakhrul mentioned Chatku’s name while recalling his theatre days at an event organised by Thakurgaon Natya Samiti.
Congratulating his longtime acquaintance on becoming president, Chatku described Fakhrul as a humane and cultured person as well as a distinguished political figure.
He wished the president good health, wisdom and strength to serve the people, uphold democracy and promote national unity beyond political divisions.
Before the presidential oath, before the ministerial office and before the political stage, there was another stage — one where Mirza Fakhrul was the hero, the reciter and the man drawing applause from the audience.
