Hanif Sanket at 68: Salahuddin Lavlu Recalls the Singara and Half a Kilo of Green Chillies

Hanif Sanket, the celebrated presenter, programme maker and writer, turns 68 today. He was born on 23 October 1958 in Barishal. For more than four decades he has held a close bond with television audiences in Bangladesh, and the biggest bridge in that relationship is the popular magazine programme 'Ityadi'.

On his birthday, popular actor and director Salahuddin Lavlu shared his memories of the man he admires. Lavlu has worked with Hanif Sanket on many productions, and their personal relationship is a warm one. The pages of memory shared by the two artistes hold countless moments, and Lavlu has now told one of the funniest of them.

Lavlu said: 'I worked as a cinematographer for Ityadi for quite some time. I have countless memories with Sanketda. Even now, when he phones, he says, "Lavluu, what is the news, how are you?" He is a very dear person to me. He is very affectionate towards me, he loves me a lot.'

Describing the funny incident, Lavlu said: 'Once we were going to cover the Lulu Pagol fair. We were travelling via Aricha. We boarded the ferry. After boarding, Sanketda asked me, "Will you eat singara?" Sanketda speaks very fast, by the way. Then he brought 10 to 12 singaras. Then he said, "With this, I need half a kilo of green chillies." I was stunned to hear it! Half a kilo of green chillies, I mean!'

Telling the rest of the story, Lavlu said: 'Later I told Sanketda's assistant about the green chillies. He went and brought half a kilo of green chillies. Then the singara eating began. I saw Sanketda take one bite of singara with two or three green chillies alongside. He can eat so many green chillies, oh my God! The funny thing is, by the time we reached, the half kilo of green chillies was finished, and Sanketda ate most of them. He still eats green chillies like that.'

It is not only memories; their paths have crossed repeatedly in professional life too. Salahuddin Lavlu has appeared at various times as a guest actor in the satirical sketches and socially conscious segments of Hanif Sanket's 'Ityadi'. He has also acted in several of Sanket's dramas, including 'Ghorer Kotha Ghorei Thak' and 'Thik Thikana'.

Hanif Sanket's television life began through the popular programme 'Jodi Kichu Mone Na Koren' of the renowned journalist and presenter Fazle Lohani. The company of that presenter was an important chapter in his professional life. He learned from him many aspects of programme planning, writing, presentation and connecting with the audience.

After Fazle Lohani's death in 1985, Hanif Sanket began solo presentation with a magazine programme called 'Jholok'. Then came 'Kothar Kotha'. In 1987 he appeared before audiences as the presenter of that programme. And in March 1989, 'Ityadi' began its journey on Bangladesh Television. The story after that is itself a part of the history of television entertainment in Bangladesh.

Beyond 'Ityadi', Hanif Sanket has also acted in dramas and films. His notable drama 'Kusum' was directed by the late Humayun Ahmed. Hanif Sanket has directed dramas too. That list includes 'Ay Fire Tor Praner Baranday', 'Durghotona', 'Toshamode Khosh Amode', 'Kingkortobbo' and 'Sheshe Eshe Obosheshe'.

A country's culture does not live only on stage and screen; it lives in the use of language, in the style of laughter, in the manner of satire, and in the ability to draw the boundaries of morality. For four decades Hanif Sanket has been drawing that boundary in his own way. Not only on screen, he has also captured humour and satire between the covers of books. His humorous writings include 'Chouchapote', 'Epith Opith', 'Dhonnobad', 'Okando Kando', 'Khobore Prokash', 'Proti O Iti' and 'Atkhanar Patkhana'.

In recognition of his work, Hanif Sanket has received many honours. In 2010 he received the Ekushey Padak. He has also received the National Environment Medal. And this year the country's highest civilian honour, the Independence Award 2026, was added to his list of achievements. On his 68th birthday, the revered television personality is receiving greetings from colleagues and admirers alike.