Sara Zaker
| Sara Zaker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Education | MA (English) |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
| Occupation | actor, entrepreneur |
| Spouse(s) | Aly Zaker |
| Children |
|
| Parents |
|
Sara Zaker is a Bangladeshi theatre and television actor, director, business entrepreneur and social activist.[1][2] She was awarded Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh in 2017.[3]
Early life and education
Zaker is the daughter of Major Salauddin Mohammad Amin and retired school teacher Alia Amin. Zaker completed her BA Honors and Masters from the University of Dhaka in English literature. She was also trained at the British Theater Institute in 1981.
Career
Actress
Zaker has been active on the stage as an actor since 1973. She works with Nagorik Natya Sampradaya, a theatre group of Bangladesh. Some of the notable dramas she has acted in Bangladesh are –
- Baaki Itihash (1973)
- Bidogdha Ramonikul (1973) – Adaptation of Molière's Les Femmes Savantes
- Ei Nishiddo Pollite (1973) – Adaptation of Edward Albee's Everything in the Garden
- Cross Purpose (1973) – Adaptation of Albert Camus's Le Malentendu
- Bohi Peer (1974)
- Dewan Gaazir Kissa (1977)
- Shot Manusher Khoje (1976)- Adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's The Good Person of Szechwan
- Shahjahan (1978)
- Copeniker Captain (1980) – Adaptation of Carl Zuckmayer's The Captain of Kopenick
- Nuruldiner Shara Jibon (1981)
- Macbeth – Adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth
- Kobor Diye Dao – Adaptation of Irwin Shaw's Bury the Dead
- Irsha
- Adaptation of Anton Chekov's The Sea Gull
- Kathal bagan – Adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard
- Naam Gotrohin – Manto'r Meyera (2014)
Zaker also directed Ariel Dorfman's "Death and the Maiden" and Anton Chekhov's The Sea Gull.
Zaker writes a column – Shubondhu Shomipeshu on Prothom Alo. She is anchoring Ami Ekhon Ki Korbo, a talk show airing on Banglavision tv channel. She conducts a radio show on Radio Shadhin named Tumi Bolo Amra Shunchi.
Entrepreneur
Zaker's business career began in 1995 in the field of market research. She is working as the project head of Nayantara Communications since its inception in 2004.[4] Nayantara is the co-producer of Sesame Workshop New York in producing Sisimpur, the Bengali edition of the Sesame Street. She is the managing director of Asiatic 360,[5] director of Asiatic Events Marketing Limited, and the managing director of Ddhoni Chitra Ltd.[6]
Activist
Zaker has led many campaigns and projects related to both male and female rights, women health, family planning and environmental issues. Some notable projects she led are –
- Accelerating progress towards Maternal and Neonatal mortality and Morbidity reduction UNICEF – 2009.
- Advocacy Activity for FP & RH through print and electronic Media UNFPA – 2009
- "Jibon-O-Jibika" Save the Children – USA.
- Male & Female Reproductive Health Campaign (Marie Stopes Clinic Society).
- "Safe Water Campaign" (IDA).
- Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) Communication Campaign UNICEF- Bangladesh.
- Arsenic Mitigation Campaign UNICEF- Bangladesh.
- Emergency Preparedness Awareness World Health Organization – WHO
- Prevention and Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking in Bangladesh International Organization for Migration – IOM.
- Awareness on Human Trafficking International Organization for Migration – IOM.
- Safe Migration International Organization for Migration – IOM.
- Comprehensive information campaign to enhance public awareness on safe migration in Bangladesh International Organization for Migration – IOM.
- Women Migration Campaign International Organization for Migration – IOM.
- Founder member of the Board of Trustees of Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh.[7][8]
- Secretary of Nagorik Natya Sampradaya (Workshop & Training Organization & Cultural Affairs).
- Secretariat-In-Charge Dramatic Theater Committee, I.T.I (International Theater Institute).
- Presidium member Dramatic Theater Committee, I.T.I (International Theater Institute).
- Special Honorable Member of Bangladesh Group Theater Federation.
- Former Chairperson of Secretariat Body, Bangladesh Group Theater Federation.
Personal life
Zaker is married to stage actor Aly Zaker.[9] Aly is a director in Bangladesh Television drama and theatre. He is also a writer,[10] freedom fighter and a business entrepreneur. They have two children, Iresh Zaker and Sriya Sharbojaya. Sriya is associate executive director of Asiatic EXP. Iresh[11] is executive director of Asiatic MCL and also a well known actor and entrepreneur.
Awards
- Sequence Award for Acting (1975)
- Anannya Shirsho Dosh (1995)
- Bishishtho Nattojon – Loko Natto Goshthi (2014)
- Inspiring Change
- Srijan Shamman Award
- Ekushey Padak (2017)
References
- ↑ Samuel L. Leiter, Encyclopedia of Asian Theatre: A-N, page 4, Greenwood Press, 2007, ISBN 0-313-33530-3
- ↑ ""I am a workaholic" – Sara Zaker". The Daily Star. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ↑ "17 named for Ekushey Padak 2017". The Daily Star. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ↑ "Sisimpur steps into fifth year". The Daily Star. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ↑ Shamma M. Raghib (5 November 2006). "Promo Logic 2006". The Daily Star. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ↑ "People Behind The Company". Asiatic 360. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ↑ Hoque, Mofidul (2012). "Liberation War Museum". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ↑ "Sara Zaker speaks about the Liberation War Museum". VOA Bangla. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ↑ Kamol, Ershad (22 February 2009). "Aly Zaker: Reporter in the frontline". The Daily Star. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ↑ Zaker, Aly (24 June 2011). "So, Asharh is here again!". The Daily Star. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- ↑ "Iresh Zaker: On the heels of actor parents". The Daily Star. 20 November 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2016.