Farooque

Akbar Hossain Pathan Dulu (Bengali: আকবর হোসেন পাঠান দুলু; 18 August 1948 – 15 May 2023), known by the stage name Farooque (Bengali: ফারুক), was a Bangladeshi actor, politician, businessman and producer. He was known as 'Mia Bhai' (respected brother) to mass people. He appeared in over 150 films in a career spanning more than five decades. Most of his films were commercially and critically successful. Farooque was one of the most recognizable stars of the classical and golden era of Bangladeshi film industry.

Farooque was the first awardee of the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Lathial in 1975 which he declined. In addition, he was awarded the Bangladesh National Film Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2016. As one of the most dominant actors in the Bangladeshi movie scene during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, Farooque is widely considered one of the greatest and influential actors in the history of Bangladeshi cinema.

During Operation Searchlight, 25 March 1971, he participated in the first resistance of the liberation war in Malitola, Old Dhaka as second in command of their own guerrilla force commanded by 'Nader Gunda'. Later, Farooque succeeded as commander and continued the fighting.

Farooque was a ruling Awami League member of Parliament (MP) for Dhaka-17 since 2018 Bangladeshi general election.