A vintage picture featuring actor Manna alongside Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has made a resurgence on social media, garnering attention on a politically significant date.
The photo made rounds on February 17, coinciding with both the anniversary of Manna’s passing in 2008 and Tarique Rahman’s inauguration as Bangladesh’s 11th prime minister. This serendipitous timing has thrust their brief interaction into the spotlight.
Captured in the image are the two men sharing smiles and pleasantries at a public gathering. Shelly Manna, the actor’s spouse, revealed that this encounter occurred over two decades ago.
“It’s an old snapshot. We have it as well. Suddenly, it started circulating on social platforms,” she shared with Prothom Alo.
Shelly recounted that the impromptu meeting took place during the Pahela Baishakh festivities at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka, likely post-2002, during the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s tenure.
“They bumped into each other. Manna was praised by Tarique Rahman for his acting skills. Their conversation mainly centered on films, the nation, and the potential involvement of celebrities in serving the country,” she disclosed.
Her narrative is based on personal memory, as there is no external documentation of their dialogue.
Manna, originally Syed Mohammad Aslam Talukder, born on April 14, 1964, in Elenga, Kalihati, Tangail, emerged as a leading figure in the film industry during the 1990s and early 2000s. Starting his career in 1984 through the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation’s “New Face” initiative, he gained prominence with the movie “Danga” (1991), directed by Kazi Hayat.
Throughout a career spanning more than two decades, Manna starred in over 200 films, including notable works like “Ammajan,” “Abbajan,” “Khalnayak,” “Sultan,” “Dhakaiya Mastan,” “Big Boss,” and “Ami Jail Theke Bolchi.”
Manna passed away on February 17, 2008, at the age of 43 due to a heart attack. His portrayal of characters championing the marginalized earned him enduring popularity among the masses.
On February 17, 2026, Tarique Rahman, the BNP’s senior vice-chairman, assumed office as the prime minister following his party’s victory in the national elections, marking the BNP’s return to executive authority after nearly twenty years.
