Remembering Shams Sumon, A Titan of the Nineties
By Cinebuzz Times Desk
Bangladeshi television’s golden era is remembered for its scripts and performers. Now one such defining performer has left us: Shams Sumon, the understated genius of an actor who won the National Film Award twice. He had a heart attack in Dhaka and died on 17 March 2026, at the age of 59.
To the Non-Resident Bengali (NRB) diaspora, Sumon was more than an actor: he was a window onto the nineties—a time when families huddled around their TV sets to watch some of the most finely crafted drama they would ever see.
Fellow actor Sujata Shimul burst into tears on hearing the news and was still sobbing Wednesday night. He told me Sumon was alone at home in Dhaka when he suddenly felt unwell around 5:00 PM. One colleague, Shahadat Hossain, rushed him to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival, having been unable to save the life of someone whom we all knew and loved for almost three decades.
This loss carries great poignancy for the diaspora: Sumon’s immediate family members, including his wife and children, now live in London, and it is they who must return to Dhaka to say their last goodbyes.
From Rajshahi to National Fame
Sumon’s career began at Rajshahi University, where he attended both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. His talent spanned not only performing but also hosting and commercials. Through this medium, his leap from Rajshahi’s academic halls to the national platform became evident.
His filmography was not extensive but far-reaching nonetheless:
Joyjatra (2004): Debuting in Tauquir Ahmed’s Liberation War opus, Sumon made a very strong impression as a serious actor.
Bidrohi Podma (2006): A brave performance by one of Bangladesh’s most competent thespians under director Abbas Kiarostami
Swapnopuron (2008): At the height of his career, he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor, securing his place in Bangladeshi cinema history. “Shams Sumon did not so much play characters as live them, and he brought quiet integrity to this work. In a fast-moving industry, that is something very unusual. With his passing, one era of refined and profound acting has slipped quietly away.”
The Last Hours of a Star
The actor’s body will be kept at Channel 1 until colleagues and admirers come to see him and say their goodbyes. After a Namaz-e-Janaza this Wednesday at 11 am, he took her back to his native village, Rajshahi, for the final rest.
Although he has left the industry bereft, it is little comfort that his body of work remains a testament to a man who brought “best actor” to the name of a supporting artist.
Editor’s note:
The passing of Shams Sumon serves both as a stark reminder of the transience of human life and as living proof that art remains a potent force for restoring the fledgling allegiance of non-resident Bangladeshis to their roots back home. Sumon was a constant face with whom many NRBs grew up. As we mourn his loss, “The Bengali Roots” conveys deepest sympathies to his family in London and Dhaka. His journey from the banks of the Padma to pole position in the national theatre remains an inspiration for hopeful artists in the community.
