Rowshanara Moni
Rowshanara Moni (born 1974) is a Bangladeshi-born British singer and actress.
Early life
Moni was born Moulvibazar, Bangladesh. She is the sixth child of Mohammed Samroo who was businessman in the United Kingdom, and Syeda Sufia Khanum who was a politician in Bangladesh.
Moni completed her primary education in Bangladesh and came to the United Kingdom in 1984 when she was 10 years old. She completed her education in the United Kingdom.
Career
Moni has been singing since the age of six. After coming to United Kingdom she joined Dishari Shilpi Gushti and performed in many stage programmes. When she was 11 she performed in the Royal Albert Hall for Save the Children.
Apart from singing she took an interest in acting. The first stage drama she took part is in “Khotto Bikkhoto” in Camden and she also took part in many other stage dramas. She acted in the first Bangla TV (UK) drama, called “Laal Golap” written by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury. She took part in radio dramas in the Sunrise Radio Bengali department with Azizul Hakim, she was also a presenter for Sunrise Radio in the Bengali department.
Moni is the current Women Affairs Secretary for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in United Kingdom. At present she is working full-time in the NHS as a Medical administrator.
In 2004, Monu released her first album, “Nijhum Raat.”
In May 2011, Moni performed at the Baishakhi Mela.
Discography
Nijhum Raat (2004)
Track list
Awards and recognition
In 1985, Moni took part in the Bengali Song Contest which was organised by Tower Hamlets Borough, and won 1st prize in Folk song. In 1986 she won 2nd prize in folk song and modern song and 1987 and 1988 she has won 2nd prize in modern song and folk song.
Personal life
At the age of 18, Moni got married in Bangladesh to Mohammed Iqbal who was a civil engineer in the Water Development Board in Bangladesh. She has one child, Aynan Shabab Iqbal.
See also
- British Bangladeshi
- List of British Bangladeshis
- Music of Bengal