Zaman, Baby
Zaman, Baby (1933-2013) a popular figure in Bangladesh as a talented actor and film producer. He was born on 28 February 1933 at Haldi, Naopara village of Burdwan district, West Bengal. His family name is Chowdhury Badruzzaman. His father’s name is Chowdhury Azfar Hossain. Baby Zaman’s mother’s name is Muslima Khatun. Baby Zaman was the second child among four brothers and three sisters.
He studied in Burdwan Town School up to class 10. He faced a harsh reality of life while studying in class VIII (age 10-12). So, he had to earn money handing over to his mother to support the family by doing various jobs without his father’s knowledge. After the partition of India, in 1950, at the age of 18, he moved from Burdwan to Dhaka. In a completely unfamiliar environment, Baby Zaman started looking for work for livelihood. Due to limited educational background, he could not get any good job. Eventually, he started his career as a bass drummer of EPR in collaboration with composer Malik Mansur. After some time, in 1954 he left this job and started the business of bottle cleaning in a chemical and pharmaceutical factory in Gandaria, old Dhaka and achieved financial success. At that time, Baby Zaman rented a two-storied house at No. 16 Shakhari Bazar Lane, old Dhaka and started living there. Since then, this house became the center of artistic practice for him as well as other cultural personalities he knew. He was a hospitable man. His house was known as Guest House. Many talented artists, especially actors, used to visit his house. Later, he brought his mother, father, brothers and sisters from Burdwan to Dhaka, while still staying in the Gandaria area.
Along with successful business, he decided to take up acting as a profession from 1958. He started performing regularly at Lalkuthi Manch (Northbrook Hall) and other stages in Dhaka. At this time, he got to know Syed Hasan Imam, Kazi Khaleque, Aktar Hossain, ATM Shamsuzzaman, Shawkat Akbar, Subhash Dutta, Bulbul Ahmed and many others. Baby Zaman made his acting debut in 1963 with the film ‘Megh Bhanga Rod’ directed by Kazi Khaleque. His next film ‘Sutarang’ released in 1964 was directed by Subhash Dutt. Among the films he had acted include ‘Natun Name Daka’, ‘Kagajer Nouka’, ‘13 No. Pheku Ostagar Lane’, ‘Suyorani Duyorani’, ‘Dui Bhai’, ‘Julekha’, ‘Anwara’, Nishi Halo Bhor, etc. are particularly noteworthy. Baby Zaman had acted on stage, TV and films and also produced three films. They are ‘Rajar Halo Saja’, ‘Jaha Balibo Satto Balibo’ and ‘Opabad’. The name of his production company is ‘Alo-Chhaya Films’.
In 1962, Baby Zaman got married to his cousin Roshan Ara Meena. They have two sons and one daughter. Baby Zaman, who has multi-dimensional acting talent, has established himself as an actor in different roles in the cinema. During the 1971 War of Liberation, he used to provide secret information and food for the Freedom Fighters stationed in Dhaka. Sometimes he gave shelter to them in his own house. In September 1971, he was physically injured while protecting his family from an attack by the Pakistani army and their henchmen at Lalmatia’s house.
The invaders looted all the belongings of his house. Baby Zaman died on 25 February 2013. [Rahmat Ali]
