Farooque

Akbar Hossain Pathan Dulu (Bengali: আকবর হোসেন পাঠান দুলু; 18 August 1948 – 15 May 2023), known by the stage name Farooque (Bengali: ফারুক), was a Bangladeshi actor, politician, businessman and producer. He was known as 'Mia Bhai' (respected brother) to mass people. He appeared in over 150 films in a career spanning more than five decades. Most of his films were commercially and critically successful. Farooque was one of the most recognizable stars of the classical and golden era of Bangladeshi film industry.

Farooque was the first awardee of the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Lathial in 1975 which he declined. In addition, he was awarded the Bangladesh National Film Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2016. As one of the most dominant actors in the Bangladeshi movie scene during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, Farooque is widely considered one of the greatest and influential actors in the history of Bangladeshi cinema.

His ability to portray various roles in villages areas such as a angry young man who stands up to evil people trying to attack his family or innocent people, a man trying to fight his evil family members and saving his love lady and others from injustice, a young man who falls his in love his love lady but has obstacles like stratus or different types of conspiracy to thwrth the love, or a patriotic young man who stands up for his country with protests in a group or fighting for justice of his countrymen with arms and crowd. He became one of the most successful village characters from 1973 to 1990. He was the only lead actor to dominate village scenes.

He has been able to establish himself as one of the leading actors in a competitive film industry in 1970's with films such as Abar Tora Manush Ho , national award Lathial, Alor Michil, Matir Maya, Golapi Ekhon Traine, Kotha Dilam , Surjogrohon , Ghor Jamai, Etim, Modhumoti, Noyonmoni, Noder Chand, Sareng Bou, Nagordola, Ghor Jamai, & Shohor Theke Dure.

With reaching the 1980's, he continued to perform in successful films such as Shaheb , Mehmaan, Chena Mukh, Maan Obhimaan, Bhul Bichar, Dukhini Ma, Alal Dulal, Shesh Porichoy, Palki , Adarshaban, 'Jadu Mahal, Mayer Achol, Phooleshwari, Jhinuk Mala, Shaktishali, Shimul Parul, Behula Lakindar , & Sikandar.

During Operation Searchlight, 25 March 1971, he participated in the first resistance of the liberation war in Malitola, Old Dhaka as second in command of their own guerrilla force commanded by 'Nader Gunda'. Later, Farooque succeeded as commander and continued the fighting.

Farooque was a ruling Awami League member of Parliament (MP) for Dhaka-17 since 2018 Bangladeshi general election.