Asaduzzaman Noor

Asaduzzaman Noor
আসাদুজ্জামান নূর
Noor in Gwangju, South Korea (Oct 2014)
Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 2014
Personal details
Born	(1946-10-31) 31 October 1946 (age 70)
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Spouse(s)	Shaheen Akhter
Alma mater	University of Dhaka
Occupation	actor, politician

Asaduzzaman Noor (born 31 October 1946) is a Bangladeshi actor, politician and activist. He is the current Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh. He got his break-through in acting during his early days as a Bangladesh Television dramatic artist. His notable works include Kothao Keu Nei, Ayomoy, Bohubrihi and Ei Sob din Ratri. His notable films are Shonkhonil Karagar (1992) and Aguner Poroshmoni (1994), both of which won National Film Awards.

Noor's career in the theatre started in 1973 when he joined the group "Nagorik". He was a receptionist of the paper "Chitraly" at that time and went to take the interview of the prominent actors that time. There he met Ali Zaker, an actor of Nagorik who asked him to visit the rehearsal of his new team. Noor later went there and saw a lot of his familiar faces of the University. Later he joined that group. At first he used to work behind the stage as a prompter. Once the rehearsal of the drama "Toilo Shonkot" which was written by Rashid Haider was going on. With only two days remaining of the first show actor of that drama Abul Hayat got injured, Ali Zaker asked Noor to take the part. With a bit force from the others Noor took it and started his career as an actor. Noor's first TV drama "Ronger Fanush" which was directed by Abdullah Al Mamun.

Noor came to politics during the period of Ayub Khan in 1962. He was a student and had joined the East Pakistan Students' Union, which was a left-sided organisation. Later he became the chairman of the Nilfamari Mohokuma Shomeetee. In 1966, he was admitted to Dhaka University to study law still a member of the Students' Union. Later he became the cultural secretary of the central committee. He also was the chairman of the Shongskriti Shongshod, a very large cultural organisation of Dhaka University. Noor stayed in the Iqbal Hall (now Johurul Huq hall) which was the centre of student politics during that period. At that time Noor came in contact with the versatile student leaders of that time. Though the followers of different political belief they worked together against the dictatorship of West Pakistan government.