Everything was carefully prepared. It was half-past five in the evening when some guests started entering Star Cinema at Bashundhara City. It was the first episode of ‘Pearar Subash’ and enthusiasm prevailed in the atmosphere as people were talking animatedly.
Nevertheless, at that very moment an unforeseen event occurred. The news was out that Ahmed Rubel, one of the lead actors in the film is no more. The particulars regarding his unexpected death were still cloaked in obscurity, leaving us with more questions than answers.
Director Nurul Alam Atik and Ahmed Rubel, who were scheduled to attend the premiere from Uttara, traveled in a car together towards Bashundhara City. Ahmed Rubel was driving himself. Ahmed Rubel fell sick unexpectedly when he parked his car at the shopping mall. Director Atik then promptly contacted several of the quick-response team members who were stationed at the cinema and ordered them to come down. They carried Ahmed Rubel to the Square Hospital in Dhaka swiftly. However, Rubel’s state worsened on the way.
The news cast a shadow of despair over the cinema. Actors, writers and directors as well as educators, journalists—all were at the venue. However, in the midst of all this confusion there was a question whether or not the film would be shown that night. When he came back from the hospital, director Nurul Alam Atik told that show must go on as a mark of respect to Rubel’s love for acting. The audience including Nasir Uddin Yousuf, Tarik Anam Khan, Joya Ahsan and Shahriar Shaikat as well as Redoan Rony wished to continue the screening for Rubel’s sake. There was also a minute of silence for everyone present, after which the decision to screen “Pearar Subash” as previously planned was unanimous. Ahmed Rubel was awarded posthumously after the screening.