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Sumaiya Rahaman Shimul (known as Sumaiya Shimu; born 30 April 1980)[2] is a Bangladeshi model, television actress and social activist.[3][4][5] She has been acting on television dramas since 1999.[6] She is the founder and chairman of a non-profit organization named 'Better Future for Women'.[7]
Sumaiya Shimu | |
|---|---|
সুমাইয়া শিমু | |
 | |
| Born | Sumaiya Rahaman Shimul 30 April 1980 |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Alma mater | Jahangirnagar University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouse |
Nazrul Islam (m. 2015) |
| Awards | Meril Prothom Alo Awards |
Shimu was born on 30 April 1980 in Narail, and completed her early education in Khulna and Dhaka.[8][9] She earned a Bachelor of Social Science and a Master of Social Science in Government and Politics from Jahangirnagar University.[10] In 2017, she completed her PhD from the same university, with her research focusing on "The Artistic and Socio-Economic Perspective of Women in Acting" in the Department of Drama and Dramatics.[11][12][13][14]
Audiovisual media
Shimu made her television debut in 1999 with the drama Ekhane Ator Paoa Jai.[15] She gained widespread recognition in 2008 for her performance in the drama Shopno Chura, which garnered significant audience attention.[16] Her role in the drama earned her the Meril Prothom Alo Award for Best TV Actress (Popular) in 2008. Shimu first came into the public spotlight as a model in a TV commercial for Lever Brothers, shot in Bombay in 1999. Her popularity increased further with her appearances in Euro Orange TV commercials.[8] In recent years, she has appeared in commercials for Square Toiletries and Nestle Bangladesh. She has made only one film appearance, in Bachelor.
Activism
In 2019, Shimu founded the non-profit foundation Better Future for Women (BFW), dedicated to empowering women by providing educational opportunities, skill-building programs, and entrepreneurship development. The organization also offers essential healthcare services to support women's participation in productive work and foster economic independence. Through this initiative, Shimu has created sustainable opportunities for women to engage meaningfully in their communities and contribute to the broader economy. BFW has collaborated with prominent organizations such as the Commonwealth of Learning (COL),[17] Uber in Bangladesh.[18][7]
In 2017, Shimu was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for Relief International, where she raised awareness about the Rohingya refugee crisis and helped secure critical funding for the organization's operations in Bangladesh.[19]
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On August 28, 2015, Shimu married Nazrul Islam, the then Bangladesh Country Director of Relief International, a USA based international non-governmental organization.[20][21] On 8 November 2023, she gave birth to twin boys in a private hospital in Dhaka.[22]
- Films
- Bachelor (2004)
- Television dramas
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