A decades-old photograph of actor Manna with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has resurfaced on social media, gaining traction on a politically charged date.
The image circulated widely on February 17— the anniversary of Manna’s death in 2008 — which this year also marked Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in as Bangladesh’s 11th prime minister. The coincidence has drawn renewed attention to the brief, little-known encounter between the two men.
The photograph shows them smiling and exchanging greetings at what appears to be a public event. According to Shelly Manna, the actor’s wife, the meeting took place more than two decades ago.
“It is an old photo. We also have it. Suddenly, we saw it circulating on social media,” she told Prothom Alo.
Shelly said the encounter was unplanned and occurred during Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka, likely sometime after 2002, when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was in office.
“They ran into each other. Tarique Rahman appreciated Manna’s acting. They mainly spoke about films and the country. There was also mention of celebrities entering politics to serve the nation,” she said.
Her account is based on personal recollection; there is no independent record of the conversation.
Manna , born Syed Mohammad Aslam Talukder on 14 April 1964 in Elenga, Kalihati, Tangail — was one of the most commercially successful actors of the 1990s and early 2000s. He entered the film industry in 1984 through the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation’s “New Face” programme.
His breakthrough came with “Danga” (1991), directed by Kazi Hayat, which established him as a leading man in Dhallywood. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he appeared in over 200 films, including “Ammajan”, “Abbajan”, “Khalnayak”, “Sultan”, “Dhakaiya Mastan”, “Big Boss”, and “Ami Jail Theke Bolchi”.
Manna died on February 17, 2008 at the age of 43, following a cardiac arrest. His populist screen persona — often portraying defenders of the underprivileged — secured enduring popularity among mass audiences.
Tarique Rahman, senior vice-chairman of the BNP, was sworn in as prime minister on February 17, 2026 after his party secured a decisive victory in the national election, returning the BNP to executive power after nearly two decades.
