We requested Sara Zaker to share some thoughts on Asaduzzaman Noor, as they have worked together on various aspects for a rather long time. We present to our readers her thoughts on her long-time colleague and friend. 

I have known Noor bhai for over 40 years now. I have seen him through many phases and overtime our relationship became stronger. Despite his profound involvement with poetry, acting and politics, he never presented himself in that manner, hence I was least aware about him when he joined our theatre troupe Nagorik. It was not until my association in Humayun Ahmed's "Ayomoy" that I began to learn about the array of talents Noor bhai possesses, and even more when we began to work in the same office. He is a hardworking and intellectual person. I can recall, as a TV actor, he was valiant, but when it came to stage plays, he was quite anxious. 

The more I learned about him, the more interesting it became and eventually we were friends. I have received tremendous support and suggestions from Noor bhai, not only on the sets, but also on the job. Overtime, he became more involved with politics, but it did not seem odd, given the role he played during the protest in the 90s. His leadership qualities were always evident. Even though his position as a Minister now is rather demanding, he continues to support us whenever possible. The combinations of being a minister and an actor have both increased the amount of pressure on Noor bhai, as he is summoned for frequent guest appearances in various occasions. Being the humble person he is, I reckon it is tough for him to make refusals. I think he needs to look into the matter as too much stress is not good for the health. If he could strategically reduce the pressure, perhaps it would have been easier for him to focus more on relevant issues, which would be of benefit, both to him and the nation. 

I have learnt from Noor bhai that there is no short-cut to success, and that hard work always pays off. Overall, he is a friend that I am proud to have.

The writer is an Actress & Group Managing Director, Asiatic 360