For many, a father is a source of strength, guidance and inspiration. For the children of some of Bangladesh’s most celebrated cultural figures, that influence extends beyond the family and into the wider cultural landscape. This Father’s Day, actor, director and advertising professional Tropa Majumdar, actor Samrat, filmmaker and actor Sohel Arman, and actress Oindrila Ahmed reflect on the fathers who shaped their lives and left an indelible mark on the nation’s arts and entertainment scene.

My father is, above all, a truly good human being.

Tropa Majumdar

When speaking about her father, theatre legend Ramendu Majumdar, Tropa begins not with his achievements but with his character.“First and foremost, my father is a human being in the truest sense of the word,” she says. “He is honest, kind and deeply compassionate. He loves this country immensely and cares deeply for people. Every quality that one hopes to find in a good person exists in him.”One trait she particularly admires is his contentment with life.“He is satisfied with very little. He has never been driven by endless wants or ambitions. That quality fascinates me, and I have always tried to learn it from him.”

Despite being one of the most respected figures in Bangladeshi theatre, Ramendu Majumdar has never been someone who seeks attention.

“He never tries to draw attention to himself. People might think he is serious because he speaks little, but he has an incredibly generous heart. Once you spend time with him, you realise how much he loves people.”

Tropa believes her father has influenced her life in profound ways, even if not always directly.
“His work, his contribution to theatre and his lifelong dedication to culture have inspired not only me but countless others. Through theatre, he has shared his values with generations of people.”

Unlike many father-daughter relationships that are often characterised by a degree of distance, Tropa says hers has always been remarkably open.

“Many people share certain things with their mothers rather than their fathers, but that was never the case for me. My father is like a friend. I can tell him anything.”

While her mother was more involved in her schooling, her relationship with her father evolved as she grew older.

“When I was young, my mother handled everything related to my education. Father probably did not even know which class I was studying in,” she says with a smile. “But as I grew up, we became friends. We started sharing ideas and conversations, and I received tremendous support from him.”

She credits him for encouraging many of her professional choices, including her involvement in theatre and advertising.

“Both my parents have played important roles in my life, but my father has always been my closest friend. The quality I admire most in him is his ability to remain content with little. I think I inherited that from him.”

On Father’s Day, her message is simple: “My deepest respect goes to my father and to all fathers.”

Everything is here, but my father is not.

Samrat

For actor Samrat, Father’s Day inevitably brings memories of his father, the legendary actor Nayak Raj Razzak.“I miss my father all the time,” he says. “And naturally, I miss him even more on Father’s Day.”There are certain occasions when the absence feels particularly painful.“I miss him most during Eid. Those days are especially difficult. The truth is that a father’s absence can never be filled.”

To Samrat, a father is like a great banyan tree, offering shelter and protection.

“Whenever there is a family gathering or celebration, he is the first person who comes to mind.”

What he misses most are the simplest gestures.

“The hardest part is that I can no longer hold his hand. It has been so many years since I held my father’s hand or sat and talked with him.

Sometimes I find myself wishing I could hold it just one more time.”

Their relationship was built on understanding and affection.

“I miss his love, his care and the comfort of having him around.”

Despite life moving forward, one reality remains unchanged.

“Everything is here, but my father is not.”

His thoughts also extend to others who have lost their fathers.

“I pray for all fathers who are no longer with us. Father, wherever you are, may your soul rest in peace. I love you very much.”

My father was like a headmaster to me.

Sohel Arman

Filmmaker, actor and writer Sohel Arman remembers his father, the acclaimed filmmaker Amjad Hossain, as both mentor and guide.“I miss him constantly,” he says. “Sometimes I still feel as though he is around. I imagine he has gone to the FDC to meet friends, or perhaps gone to the market. When I enter his room and see his photograph and thousands of books, I feel he is still there, blessing me.”One lesson from his father remains particularly memorable.“He once told me that another tree cannot grow beneath a banyan tree. What he meant was that because he himself was a renowned director, it would be difficult for me to grow under his shadow. He encouraged me to build my own identity.”

Sohel followed that advice, pursuing acting, writing and directing through his own efforts.
“Years later, he hugged me, kissed my forehead and said, ‘You did it. Without my recommendation, you established yourself through your own merit.’”

One moment brought Amjad Hossain particular joy. A group of young people once approached him and asked, “Are you Sohel Arman’s father?”
“He came home so happy that day,” Sohel recalls. “He embraced me and said, ‘This is exactly what I wanted.’”

The filmmaker had even chosen his son’s name carefully.

“I once asked him why my surname was not Hossain. He said, ‘I never wanted you to grow through my name. I wanted you to make your own name through your work.’”

That philosophy shaped Sohel’s life.

“My father was like a headmaster to me. Just as a teacher shapes a student, he shaped me.”
In his father’s final years, they became especially close.

“For the last twelve years of his life, we spent so much time together. During his illness, I travelled with him to Bangkok several times for treatment. We stayed in the same hotels and spent hours talking. Those memories are priceless.”

His father also took immense pride in his achievements.

“When my songs became popular, or when my dramas and films received recognition, he would say, ‘This is what I wanted.’”

A father’s memories never fade.

Oindrila Ahmed

For actress Oindrila Ahmed, memories of her father, the late actor Bulbul Ahmed, remain vivid and deeply cherished.“A father is a father,” she says. “I could talk about him endlessly. The memories I shared with him can never be forgotten.”Bulbul Ahmed’s career left such a lasting impression that audiences often associated him with his most memorable roles.“After he made 'Bhalo Manush', many people began calling him ‘Bhalo Manush’. Later, after 'Mohanayok', people called him ‘Mohanayok’. And after 'Devdas', many knew him simply as ‘Devdas’.”

Yet beyond the screen persona, Oindrila remembers a man of remarkable character.

“I cannot possibly finish describing all of his qualities. He had so many wonderful traits.”
She also had the privilege of working alongside him.

“We appeared together in several acclaimed literary dramas, and I acted under his direction. I learned so much from him.”

His absence continues to leave a void.

“There is a sense of emptiness because he is no longer here.”

Some of her most treasured memories come from the final years of his life.

“He was unwell during his later years. We spent a lot of time talking and sharing stories. I often think about those moments.”

One project remains especially meaningful.

“I made a documentary about him, and he was incredibly happy about it.”

As Father’s Day arrives once again, these reflections serve as a reminder that while celebrated cultural icons leave lasting legacies through their work, their greatest impact is often felt within their families. For these sons and daughters, the fathers they remember are not only legendary artistes and cultural figures, but mentors, friends, teachers and guiding lights whose influence continues long after they are gone.