Bangladesh’s film community is mourning the loss of Sheikh Nazrul Islam, one of the industry’s most adaptable and enduring storytellers. The veteran filmmaker died shortly after 12:30am on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 81.
Islam had been admitted on 16 November after suffering a mild stroke and remained in hospital until his death, the Directors’ Association’s deputy secretary, Apurbo Rana, confirmed.
Born on 7 November 1944, Islam entered the world of film under the mentorship of two legends, Khan Ataur Rahman and Zahir Raihan. That early training set the groundwork for a prolific career in which he became a rare multi-hyphenate: directing, writing scripts and dialogue, penning lyrics, crafting stories and even stepping in front of the camera when a role called for it.
Across several decades, he built a diverse body of work that tracked the evolving tastes of Bangladeshi audiences. His directorial credits include a long list of commercial hits and social dramas such as ‘Chabuk’, ‘Chand’, ‘Nagin’, ‘Poriborton’, ‘Bou-Shashuri’, ‘Kosom’, ‘Bidhata’, ‘Chander Alo’, ‘Chander Hasi’, ‘Jochonar Prem’ and ‘Ma Boro Na Bou Boro’.
While filmmaking remained his chief calling, Islam also appeared on screen, starting with the beloved 1960s film ‘Sat Bhai Champa’. He later acted in several projects and contributed both behind the scenes and in a small role in Zahir Raihan’s unfinished work ‘Let There Be Light’.
Early on Sunday, his body was taken to his ancestral home in Kaliganj, Natore, where he will be buried in the family cemetery following funeral prayers. He leaves behind his wife and two children.
Since the news broke, tributes have poured in from actors, directors and industry bodies across the country. Many hailed Islam as a quiet force whose creative versatility shaped generations of Bangladeshi cinema and left an indelible mark on the screen culture he helped build.
