Shams Sumon’s life was marked by severe financial hardship until his death.

Actor Shahriar Nazim Joy, a close colleague of Shams Sumon, has expressed profound grief over his friend’s passing in a heartfelt Facebook post. In a letter addressed to the late actor, Joy shared his deep affection and sorrow, revealing the emotional bond they shared.

Shams Sumon, a prominent actor of the 1990s, passed away on 17 March at 6:43 PM in a private hospital. The news sent waves of mourning across the entertainment community, with friends and fans expressing condolences on social media. Joy wrote, “About a week ago, we had iftar together. There were very few days when I didn’t speak to him at Channel i. Over the last two months, I learned so much from him, heard countless stories about his life. I saw his life up close. On this sacred day, you left us, brother. Inshallah, Inshallah, may you be in heaven.”

Joy admitted that he was devastated by Sumon’s death. In a lengthy midnight post on Facebook, Joy appeared to write an open letter directly to his departed friend, reflecting their deep friendship and Sumon’s struggles. He revealed that Sumon had endured significant financial and emotional hardship.

Recalling their first meeting and early friendship, Joy shared, “I first saw you in front of PG Hospital in Shahbagh. Your powerful performance in a women’s society stage play and your pure voice inspired me. At that time, I was an ordinary theatre worker. In popular stage plays, directors would pay actors for roles, but you were indispensable, a great actor without needing money. Gradually, we acted together, and friendship grew. Even though you were older, you accepted me as a friend.”

Joy and Sumon collaborated on numerous plays. He reminisced, “Once we went to Indonesia, slept together on the floor, laughing because of a shared thought we never spoke aloud. In Dhaka, we appeared in television dramas together from 2000 to 2004-5. You would say, ‘If one of us dies, we’ll meet again.’”

He also described Sumon’s despair: “Towards the end, I only heard words of frustration and hopelessness from you. I tried to encourage you, to console you, to make you see life lightly, yet you smiled off my advice. You shared the struggles of your personal life, how you tried but couldn’t overcome them, and I realized you were slowly wasting away under mental pressure.”

Joy revealed the financial pressures that haunted Sumon: “No matter what work or recognition you achieve, if the money you need isn’t available, it slowly destroys you. You worried for your children’s future but couldn’t provide enough. Your family was in London, wanting you to move, but you stayed, sacrificing everything for your homeland. You endured food, financial, and personal hardships alone. At 60, living with such burdens is impossible.”

Reflecting on Sumon’s loyalty to his homeland, Joy wrote, “Had you gone to London, life would have been better, but you chose to stay on this soil, breathing this air, and that’s where you wanted to rest. No more worries about Channel i, no more stress, no more money problems. Life taught me that one must secure the necessary money to avoid suffering. You taught me that clearly, brother.”

Joy called Sumon a “hidden superstar”: “After your passing, you’ve received immense respect. Facebook is full of your news. You may have thought of yourself as average, but I see a superstar. May Allah grant your soul peace. Rest in comfort, brother.”

Sumon’s final interview aired on Channel i in July 2024 on Joy’s program ‘13 Questions’. Joy’s poignant letter has moved the entertainment community and fans alike, highlighting the depth of friendship and the challenges behind the public persona of a beloved actor.