Young man with many talents

1968

The time came when the family had to move again, this time to Sylhet town. In 1968, Fazal was admitted into class nine at the age of fourteen. This was a very significant part of his life as this was when his talents began to flourish.

They moved into a rented house in Tatipara, Sylhet. Fazal attended a school very close to the house. There were, obviously, students who were already settled in and three students who had claimed the top three positions in the class. With Fazal's determination, it did not take a long time for him to acquire the highest position in the class. During the SSC (Secondary School Certificate) Exam, he did extremely well achieving first division and several distinctions.

During the liberation war of Bangladesh, Fazal had to stay at home since all the schools and colleges were closed because of the war. The then government had ordered that all signboards be written in English and no longer in Bengali. As Fazal had plenty of free time in his hands he adopted artwork and began to design signboards. Within a few weeks he became popular and started to get work and earn extra income for his family and himself.

Fazal, aged 20

He started to take big contracts even from the government offices. Fazal continued this business while he was studying for at least ten years. He called his firm ChitroKor. Chitro meaning picture, and Kor meaning artist. The firm was situated at his home in Tatipara. During the war Fazal and his family lived in a rented house. Seven brothers and three sisters lived in this small house with their parents. Fazal constructed the signboards in his bedroom shared also by his brothers. This room was his study, his business headquarter and also his bedroom.

"There were signboards and paints scattered around the room. I wish my children could see the difference, how I accomplished my dream with such little resources."

Fazal Mahmood

Immediately after the Liberation War there was a big cultural up rise. For the first time the people of Bangladesh felt that they had a language, that they had a culture and a country. Bengali music and drama was pouring out from every house in every district. The whole country was celebrating. Fazal participated in the dramas taking place at the time. He became a very popular actor and singer. From 1969, after Fazal got his SSC, he was preparing for his HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate). His parents sent him to Victoria College, in Comilla. This was in another district away from all his social activities in Sylhet. His parents deliberately sent him there so he could only focus on his studies.

A few months after studying at the college, one morning Fazal packed his luggage and set off to return to Sylhet without his parents knowledge to study there. Fazal continued all this cultural activities, business work and his studies. He was also tutoring people who were studying a few years below him. Fazal passed his HSC with flying colours. He earned the first division with distinctions again. Fazal became very unique because he was not only studying but he was continuing a business and performing arts and culture at the same time. Continuing his studies with excellence allowed him to be admitted into the MBBS course in 1972.

Fazal, aged 21, acting as Shiraj-ud-dowla

Starting a new course and pressure building up did not stop Fazal performing. Not only was this a hobby of his but it also earned him extra income for his family and himself. He was heavily involved at the Sylhet Radio Station as an actor, singer and newscaster. Fortunately, Fazal was able to sing all types of songs, which was very unusual for singers during this time. He maintained a very intense cultural involvement and played a significant and memorable role in the cultural area. His talents were greatly appreciated by everyone. He had support from all the leading musicians, singers, drama actors, directors and producers on the stage as well as the radio and television.

Fazal, aged 20, with his co-artists and director Muminuddin Bhuiya (late) in a drama recording at Radio Bangladesh, Sylhet (1974)

"After twenty years, our radio station still plays the same songs sung by Fazal Mahmood twenty years ago. The same dramas are still being broadcast."

Amirul Islam
(Programme Producer, Radio Bangladesh Sylhet)

During this period, Fazal learnt from many people like late Shibu Bhattacharjee, Mumin Uddin Bhuiya and Bidit Lal Das. Because of his personal character, he became very close to these people. They became part of his family. They loved and cared for him very much. They taught him everything they knew. They gave him opportunities to go forward. He was very lucky.

Fazal, aged 45, with the key leaders in music and drama fields at Sylhet including Bidit Lal Das and late Shibu Bhattacharya, Himangshu Biswas and Ajay Paul (2000)

"Often when people achieve as much as Fazal has, they become self centred and forget who their teachers were. It is nice to hear when Fazal says to his daughter that I was his Drama Guru. He has the same respect now as he had when I first met him."

Shibu Bhattacharjee
(Drama Producer)

He was given the chance to partake with a group from Sylhet in a national drama festival competition. His group did tremendously well and he was actually honoured with the Best Actor award. He won many awards for being the Best Singer in Sylhet in many different contests. Also, he won the Best Actor's award in Sylhet as well as in the Inter-District contests.