# Bishaash

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***Bishaash*** (Bengali: বিশ্বাস; *Belief*) is a Bangladeshi supernatural [television series](/source/Serial_(radio_and_television)) produced by [BBC World Service](/source/BBC_World_Service) Trust which was first broadcast on [Bangladesh Television](/source/Bangladesh_Television) from 16 October 2010 to 18 March 2011.

The series stars [Shama Rahman](/source/Shama_Rahman), [Sayed Babu](/source/Sayed_Babu), Arabi Rahman and [Rahmat Ali](/source/Rahmat_Ali_(actor)). It is about a British-Bangladeshi woman named Zara who relocates to Bangladesh after inheriting a stake in a mysterious supernatural detective agency in Dhaka.

## Plot summary

Zara Rahman ([Shama Rahman](/source/Shama_Rahman)), a young, head-strong and inquisitive woman discovers that she has inherited co-ownership of an antique shop in Dhaka after the death of her grandfather. When she moves to Bangladesh she learns that the shop also houses a supernatural detective agency. She meets young supernatural investigator Abir Zaman ([Sayed Babu](/source/Sayed_Babu)), his uncle Ferdous Zaman (Rahmat Ali) and his cousin sister Laboni (Arabi Rahman) and is thrown into his world of supernatural mystery, magic and adventure. The story progresses with various twists and events relating to the Zaman Family and ends with a huge unexpected twist and the darkest secret of the Zaman Family.

## Overview

*Bishaash* is south Asia's first supernatural detective series.[1][2][3][4] and the first serial drama shot between Bangladesh and London, England.[5] There are 24 paired episodes, each lasting 25 minutes.[6]

The series features dialogue in Bengali and English.[1][7] Initially, the dialogue in the series is in Bangla with English subtitles. However, episode by episode, more and more English dialogue is introduced.[8]

The series was part of Mott MacDonald's £50 million nine-year programme since 2007 aimed at teaching many of the poorest people in Bangladesh what project director John Shotton describes as "vocational English". One of their project partners is broadcaster BBC World Service.[8] The series was made by the [BBC World Service](/source/BBC_World_Service) Trust.[1]

The programme was an initiative of English in Action, funded by the [Department for International Development](/source/Department_for_International_Development).[1] by 2017.[9]

The storylines have a supernatural twist[8] which includes themes of family tradition, love, evil,[2][3] and danger.[8]

## Production

Writers, directors and producers were recruited from the UK.[8] Production staff includes staff from the UK as well as Bangladesh.[10] Location manager Charlie Thompson recruited a local team from the domestic industry with basic industry experience or basic skill sets in the right areas and trained them to meet the required standards, broaden their skill bases and enable them to use them in the international arena. Half a dozen locals went through a formal training programme organised by Thompson that included seminars and on-the-job learning.[11]

*Bishaash* is set in [Dhaka](/source/Dhaka), Bangladesh and [Brick Lane](/source/Brick_Lane), [London](/source/London).[8] It was filmed in a variety of locations in and around Dhaka and a village was built in the forest region of [Gazipur](/source/Gazipur_District).[11] It was shot on [XDCAM](/source/XDCAM) and was edited in Bangladesh using [Final Cut Pro](/source/Final_Cut_Pro).[12]

## Cast and characters

### Main

- [Rahmat Ali](/source/Rahmat_Ali_(actor)) as Ferdous Zaman: Antique shop co-owner, and Abir and Laboni's uncle.
- [Shama Rahman](/source/Shama_Rahman) as Zara Rahman: Head-strong, inquisitive woman who relocates to Bangladesh when she inherits a stake in a detective agency.
- Babu Md. Shaidul Islam Molla ([Sayed Babu](/source/Sayed_Babu)) as Abir Zaman: Supernatural investigator and Zara's love interest.
- Arabi Rahman as Laboni Zaman: Technology and research expert, and Abir's cousin.

### Recurring

- [Ahmed Rubel](/source/Ahmed_Rubel) as Abdul Ali, who is after the Keystone Journal and intent on getting revenge on the Zamans.
- [Humayun Faridi](/source/Humayun_Faridi) as Kabir Zaman: Antique shop co-owner, Abir's father, Ferdous' elder brother.
- [Shatabdi Wadud](/source/Shatabdi_Wadud) as Pishach/ Sherzad / Alien / Announcer / Drug Dealer
- [Mirana Zaman](/source/Mirana_Zaman) as Dadi (Grandmother): The matriarch of the Zaman family.

### Guest

- [Jayanta Chattopadhyay](/source/Jayanta_Chattopadhyay) as Dhormoraj: the chief of a tribe.
- [Fazlur Rahman Babu](/source/Fazlur_Rahman_Babu) as Kimbu
- [Raisul Islam Asad](/source/Raisul_Islam_Asad) as Nuruddin
- [Shimul Yousuf](/source/Shimul_Yousuf) as Rokeya
- [A.T.M. Shamsuzzaman](/source/A.T.M._Shamsuzzaman) as Rustom
- Utsha Zaman as Baroon
- Reetu Abdus Sattar as Srabonti
- [Shyamol Mawla](/source/Shyamol_Mawla) as Adnan
- [Rumana Malik Munmun](/source/Rumana_Malik_Munmun)
- [Bijori Barkatullah](/source/Bijori_Barkatullah) as Meher
- [Shahed Ali](/source/Shahed_Ali_(actor)) as the mirror owner

## Broadcast

*Bishaash* was broadcast weekly on [Bangladesh Television](/source/Bangladesh_Television) and Bangladesh Television World[7] from 16 October 2010.[13][14] It was followed back-to-back with an episode of *BBC Janala Mojay Mojay Shekha*.[15] and reached audiences of 20.3 million.[16]

The series was provided without charge to [Zee TV](/source/Zee_TV)[1][17] and was aired weekly from 6 March 2011[10] on Zee Network's [Zee Café](/source/Zee_Caf%C3%A9).[2][3][11][18] The popularity of the series led to a rebroadcast.[19]

## See also

- [British Bangladeshi](/source/British_Bangladeshi)

## References

1. Dowell, Ben (28 February 2011). ["BBC World Service Trust drama to air on Zee TV"](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/feb/28/bbc-world-service-bishaash). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["Zee Network Europe joins hands with BBC to showcase Asia's first Supernatural Drama"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140327103406/http://www.esselgroup.com/zee-network-europe-joins-hands-with-bbc-to-showcase-first-asias-supernatural-drama.html). *Esselgroup*. 7 March 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.esselgroup.com/zee-network-europe-joins-hands-with-bbc-to-showcase-first-asias-supernatural-drama.html) on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["Zee Network Europe joins hands with BBC to showcase Asia's first Supernatural Drama"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072018/http://www.zeetelevision.com/media-relations/press-release/zee-network-europe-joins-hands-with-bbc-to-showcase-first-asias-supernatural-drama.html). *Zee Television*. Archived from [the original](http://www.zeetelevision.com/media-relations/press-release/zee-network-europe-joins-hands-with-bbc-to-showcase-first-asias-supernatural-drama.html) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. Rahman, Emdad (21 April 2011). ["Emdad Rahman discusses paranormal adventures with Shama Rahman"](http://www.eastlondonnews.com/the-supernatural-investigator/). *East London News*. Retrieved 1 May 2014.

1. ["The Nine Lives of Shama Rahman"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123417/http://www.wowtalks.tv/the-nine-lives-of-shama-rahman/). *WOW Talks*. 15 September 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.wowtalks.tv/the-nine-lives-of-shama-rahman/) on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.

1. Goundry, Nick (28 August 2010). ["York councillor Christian Vassie composes music for Bangladeshi TV series"](http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/features/features/8359887.York_councillor_Christian_Vassie_composes_music_for_Bangladeshi_TV_series/). *[The Press](/source/The_Press_(York))*. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. Suraiya, Sameeha (3 April 2011). ["A Movement for the Millions"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131228191936/http://archive.thedailystar.net/campus/2011/04/01/education.htm). *[The Daily Star](/source/The_Daily_Star_(Bangladesh))*. Archived from [the original](http://archive.thedailystar.net/campus/2011/04/01/education.htm) on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["English in Action"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074009/http://www.internationaldevelopment.mottmac.com/projects/englishinaction/). *International Development Services*. Archived from [the original](http://www.internationaldevelopment.mottmac.com/projects/englishinaction/) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["The manthan Award South Asia and Asia Pacific"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140331083611/http://manthanaward.org/section_full_story.asp?id=1056). *The Manthan award*. Archived from [the original](http://www.manthanaward.org/section_full_story.asp?id=1056) on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["UK airing for Bangladesh drama"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924051234/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/12669811). *[Ariel](/source/Ariel_(newspaper))*. 8 March 2011. Archived from [the original](https://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/12669811) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. Goundry, Nick (4 March 2011). ["BBC supernatural drama Bishaash trains crew on location in Bangladesh"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075107/http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2011/03/bbc-supernatural-drama-bishaash-trains-crew-on-location-in-bangladesh/). *The Location Guide*. Archived from [the original](http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2011/03/bbc-supernatural-drama-bishaash-trains-crew-on-location-in-bangladesh/) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["Bishaash"](http://www.outpostfacilities.co.uk/projects/Bishaash/). *OutPost Facilities*. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["'Bishaash' and 'BBC Janala - Mojay Mojay Shekha' launched"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407193143/http://www.eiabd.com/eia_oldsite/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152:bishaash-and-bbc-janala-mojay-mojay-shekha-launched&catid=252:news-2010&Itemid=57). *English in Action*. Archived from [the original](http://www.eiabd.com/eia_oldsite/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152:bishaash-and-bbc-janala-mojay-mojay-shekha-launched&catid=252:news-2010&Itemid=57) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["English lessons on every television"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407193141/http://www.eiabd.com/eia_oldsite/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=149:english-lessons-on-every-television&catid=252:news-2010&Itemid=57). *English in Action*. Archived from [the original](http://www.eiabd.com/eia_oldsite/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=149:english-lessons-on-every-television&catid=252:news-2010&Itemid=57) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["ZEE Cafe to air BBC produced show 'Bishaash'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407062123/http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/zee-cafe-to-air-bbc-produced-show-bishaash). *BizAsia UK*. 28 February 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/zee-cafe-to-air-bbc-produced-show-bishaash) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. ["TV"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182754/http://www.bbcjanala.com/portal/?page_id=6&lang=en). *[BBC Janala](/source/BBC_Janala)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.bbcjanala.com/portal/?page_id=6&lang=en) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. Laughlin, Andrew (28 February 2011). ["BBC World Service drama to air on Zee TV"](http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a306326/bbc-world-service-drama-to-air-on-zee-tv.html). *[Digital Spy](/source/Digital_Spy)*. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. Hawkes, Rebecca (1 March 2011). ["Zee takes BBC's Bangladesh drama to UK"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407213848/http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2011030110676/zee-takes-bbcs-bangladesh-drama-to-uk.html). *Rapid TV News*. Archived from [the original](http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2011030110676/zee-takes-bbcs-bangladesh-drama-to-uk.html) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

1. Islam, Maz. ["BBC Media Action"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407112402/http://www.infoasaid.org/guide/bangladesh/organisation/bbc-media-action). *infoasaid.org*. Archived from [the original](http://www.infoasaid.org/guide/bangladesh/organisation/bbc-media-action) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

## External links

- [Bishaash](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542501/) at IMDb
- [Bishaash](https://www.youtube.com/Bishaash) on YouTube

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bishaash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishaash) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishaash?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.