IPDC Finance’s Agraz: Seeing through lenses of Sara Zaker

Agraz, an online event organised by IPDC Finance, showcases the journey of Bangladesh to becoming an independent nation. Hosted by Anis A Khan, advisor of Tyser Risk Management, Bangladesh, the event features stories of noted Bangladeshi personalities, their memories of the Liberation War, their ideas for Bangladesh, and their vision for the country's prosperous future.

The 25th episode of the series featured Sara Zaker, a renowned social activist, theatre activist, entrepreneur, actor, as well as a trustee and current member secretary of Liberation War Museum. She was also honoured with Ekushy Padak in 2017 for her mesmerising acting. The programme aired on IPDC Finance's Facebook page on October 4, 2021.

Sara Zaker was born in Abbottabad, during the East Pakistani period of Bangladesh recalls the actress. Her father was in the army yet quit the job long before his retirement age. "I am the third of four children, with my mother being a school teacher," recalls the theatre activist.

Her elder brother tried to join the freedom fighters and was killed alongside his friend during their journey to cross the border to Bangladesh. Her other brother is currently a professor while her sister is a demographer. "Both of them are currently living in the United States of America," smiles the artist Sara Zaker.

Sara Zaker's two children Iresh Zaker and Sriya Sharbojoya both inherited their parents Aly Zaker and Sara Zaker. "After returning from America back in 2005, Iresh suddenly said he wanted to pursue acting," reminisces the social activist. "On the other hand, my daughter chose the theatre stage," says Sara Zaker.

Sara Zaker and her family came to Dhaka in 1962 after her father left the army. She was a student of Viqarunnisa Noon School & College and entered Holy Cross College in 1972. "I still remember; it was my Gaye Holud function on the day my HSC results were published," says Sara Zaker.

 Sara Zaker was also an alumni of the University of Dhaka. "At first, I studied Biochemistry till the second year," recalls the actor. "When Iresh was small I left my biochemistry studies and entered English Literature, completed both my honours and masters before leaving to London for a directorial course."

Leading into her career life, famed artiste of the theatre stage Sara Zaker shared some of her memories. "I did not like advertisement works that much back then," smiles the artist. "My husband was always acute on choosing people and he placed me at our market research firm."

"I was not a student of Business Studies and was totally inadequate for the job," shared the Ekushy Padak awardee. "I introduced focused group discussions into market researcher alongside a friend and left the market research scene after 12 years of work."

Sara Zaker focused on the communications sector of Asiatic 360 afterward. "I would say this was a fortunate turning point for me," revealed the social activist.  "The UNICEF campaigns were just starting back then and I was the one to introduce the planning discipline into the social welfare scenes."

She worked with UNICEF, Save the Children, World Health Organisation (WHO), and many others, leading campaigns and projects related to male and female rights, health, family planning, and environmental issues.

1997 was a career turning point for Sara Zaker as she started working on entertainment and education. "My team sent a proposal to Sesame Workshop and we started the journey of Sisimpur as co-producers back in 2004."

Sara Zaker's husband, the legendary culture and media persona Aly Zaker passed away last year. "He was a really positive man," recalls the artist. "I always feel his absence now that he is gone."

"Aly Zaker was a natural leader, anyone who worked with him would say how he led us through the work smiling and laughing with everyone," smiles Sara Zaker. "Be it his organisation or his theatre troupe, he made everyone working with him grow as a family rather than just workers or colleagues."

Answering the comments of the audience, Sara Zaker narrated her journey to the Ekushy Palak Award as an actress. "I got the award for my acting true but that was not all," pointed out Sara Zaker. "I was the first woman to regularly appear in the theatre stage and my contribution in building the theatre world after the liberation were vital recognitions as well."

Sara Zaker has gifted the entertainment stages of Bangladesh with marvelous films, dramas, theatre plays. "Usually, a girl is mostly involved in acting for these platforms and I had no desire to follow this trend," says the artist. "That is why I took on directorial works, writing and became the chairperson of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation in 2000."

When asked about the virtual platform and technological impact on today's advertisement sector, Sara Zaker shared her opinion. "There are Netflix-level content producing platforms in Bangladesh now," smiles the artist. "Advertisements is passively appearing in these platforms and advertisement sector is advancing with much dynamism."

"Turn the gap between the new and the old generations into a bridge walking, you must never forget the culture, traditions, history, and roots that you are shouldering," remarks Sara Zaker for the youth at the end of the show.