Cultural Correspondent: Valiant freedom fighter, Ekushey award-winning cultural personality and eminent actor Aly Zaker was laid to eternal rest at Banani graveyard after Asr prayers on Friday.

Earlier, his body was taken on the premises of LiberationWarMuseum at Agargaon in the city at 11am.

Family sources said the celebrated actor was tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) two days before his death and that is why his body was not taken to the Central Shaheed Minar.

When his body was taken on museum premises, cultural personalities, friends and admirers paid their tributes to Aly Zaker, who was a trustee of LiberationWarMuseum, maintaining health guidelines.

Cultural personalities Ramendu Majumder, Nasiruddin Yusuf, Ferdousi Majumder and Mamunur Rashid, Liberation War Museum Trustees Dr Sarwar Ali and Mofidul Hoque placed wreaths at his coffin. On behalf of Awami League, party’s Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil and Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua paid homage by placing wreath on his coffin.

Zaker’s wife Sara Zaker, son actor Iresh Zaker and Sriya Sharbojoya stayed beside the coffin on the occasion.

Former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor stayed beside the coffin all the time.

A guard of honor was given to freedom fighter Aly Zaker on the occasion recalling his contributions to the Liberation War. His body was kept on the premises of the museum till 12.30 pm and later, the body was taken on the premises of his office- Asiatic in Banani in the city.

Aly Zaker breathed his last around 6.40am while he was undergoing treatment at the UnitedHospital in the city. He was 76.

He is survived by wife, one son, a daughter and a host of relatives and admirers.

Aly Zaker had been suffering from cancer and various old-age complications.

He was also found COVID-19 positive after his sample test on November 16.

Earlier on November 17, he was admitted to BangladeshSpecializedHospital due to cardiac problem.

President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haq and State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Aly Zaker.

Aly Zaker was born on November 6 in 1944 in Chattogram.

He was the third among four siblings, and spent his early childhood in Kushtia and Madaripur. His father was a high-ranking government official.

He studied at Notre DameCollege and graduated from the University of Dhaka.

Aly Zaker served as a freedom fighter in the Liberation War. He was in Sector 8 with Major General Manzoor.

In 1972, Aly Zaker joined Aranyak Natya Dal. His first stage appearance was taken place with performance in a drama ‘Kabor’ written by Munier Chowdhury.

Later, he joined Nagorik Natya Sampradaya, where his most memorable work — “Dewan Gazir Kissa”, “Nurul Din-er Shara Jibon”, “Macbeth” and “Galileo”, among many others — came.

Aly Zaker directed plays like “Baki Itihash”, “Bidogdho Romonikul”, “Toilo Sankat”, “Ei Nishiddho Polli Te” and “Ocholayoton”, among others.

On television, he is known for classics like “Aaj Robibar” and “Bohubrihi”.

Aly Zaker married eminent theatre personality Sara Zaker in 1975 and they have a son Iresh Zaker and daughter Sriya Sharbojoya.

He was one of the trustees in the LiberationWarMuseum in Dhaka. Aly Zaker was the Chairman of Asiatic Society.

He was the recipient of Ekushey Padak, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award, Bangabandhu Award, Munier Chowdhury Award and Naren Biswas Award, among other accolades.