Prompt: Question: Tell me a bio of Julie Bishop.

Julie Bishop

<s>Julie Bishop Julie Isabel Bishop (born 17 July 1956) is an Australian former politician who served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2018 and deputy leader of the Liberal Party from 2007 to 2018. She was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Curtin from 1998 to 2019. She has been the chancellor of the Australian National University since January 2020. Bishop was born in Lobethal, South Australia, and studied law at the University of Adelaide. Prior to entering politics she worked as a commercial lawyer in Perth, Western Australia; she was the local managing partner of Clayton Utz. She was a delegate to the 1998 constitutional convention, and also served as a director of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) and as a member of the Murdoch University senate. Bishop was elected to parliament at the 1998 federal election, representing the Division of Curtin in Perth's western suburbs. In the Howard Government, she served as Minister for Ageing (2003–2006), Minister for Education and Science (2006–2007), and Minister for Women (2006–2007). After the Coalition lost the 2007 election, Bishop was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party. She was the first woman to hold the position, and was re-elected to the post at multiple leadership spills following her initial

Julie Bishop

election. During her time as deputy, there were three different Liberal leaders—Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull, and Tony Abbott. When the Coalition returned to power at the 2013 election, Bishop was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Abbott Government. She was Australia's first female foreign minister. Issues that arose during her tenure included changes to the Australian foreign aid program, the international military intervention against ISIL, the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, and the execution of Australian citizens by Indonesia. In August 2018, Peter Dutton challenged Turnbull for the leadership of the Liberal Party, due to dissatisfaction from the party's conservative wing. Turnbull defeated Dutton in a leadership ballot, but tensions continued to mount and the party voted in favour of holding a second spill; Bishop chose to be a candidate. In the second vote, Bishop was eliminated in the first round by Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison, with Morrison elected as party leader (and thus prime minister) in the second round. She declined to retain the foreign affairs portfolio in the Morrison Ministry, instead moving to the backbench. Bishop retired from politics on 11 April 2019, before the impending federal election. On 1 January 2020, Bishop commenced her term as chancellor of the Australian National University. She is the first woman to be in this

Julie Bishop

position.</s><s>Early life. Bishop was born on 17 July 1956 in Lobethal, South Australia. She is the third of four children born to Isabel Mary (née Wilson) and Douglas Alan Bishop; she has two older sisters and a younger brother. Bishop has described her parents as "classic Menzies Liberals". Her father was a returned soldier and orchardist, while her mother's family were sheep and wheat farmers. Both her mother and grandfather William Bishop were active in local government, serving terms as mayor of the East Torrens District Council. Bishop grew up on an apple and cherry orchard in Basket Range. The year before she was born, it was burned to the ground in the Black Sunday bushfires. Bishop began her education at Basket Range Primary School and later attended St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School in Adelaide. She was the head prefect in her final year. Bishop went on to study law at the University of Adelaide. She worked two part-time jobs as a barmaid while at university—one at Football Park and one at a pub in Uraidla. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1978.</s><s>Professional career. After graduating law school, Bishop joined Wallmans, an Adelaide-based

Julie Bishop

law firm, as its first female articled clerk. She left after less than a year, in part due to an incident where a senior partner asked her to perform waitressing duties. In 1982, aged 26, she became a partner in the firm of Mangan, Ey & Bishop. The following year, she married West Australian property developer Neil Gillon, and moved to Perth. On arriving in WA, Bishop joined Robinson Cox as a solicitor specialising in commercial litigation and was made a full partner in 1985. According to Kerry Stokes, "in the legal profession she was a very determined, reasoned person [...] there's not been much written about what a good executive Julie was—responsible for administering and running a partnership, not just a lawyer". In the late 1980s, Robinson Cox was hired by CSR Limited to defend against compensation claims brought by asbestos mining workers, who had contracted mesothelioma while working for Midalco, a subsidiary of CSR. Bishop was part of the team assigned to the case, which developed an argument that a company was not legally responsible for the actions of its subsidiaries. The Supreme Court of Western Australia eventually decided to pierce the corporate veil and hold CSR liable for Midalco's actions; the lead litigant

Julie Bishop

died before the conclusion of the case, which lasted eight months. After becoming a public figure, Bishop was accused by opponents of acting immorally by involving herself in the case. She has said she conducted herself ethically and professionally, and per procedural advice given by barristers Robert French and David Malcolm (both future judges). As a legal advisor to the Western Australian Development Corporation, Bishop assisted in the incorporation of several new government enterprises, including Gold Corporation (the operator of the Perth Mint), LandCorp, and Eventscorp (a division of Tourism Western Australia). Robinson Cox merged into the larger firm of Clayton Utz in 1992, and she was made managing partner of the firm's Perth office in 1994. In the same year, she took up an appointment as chair of the state government's Town Planning Appeal Tribunal, serving a three-year term. In 1996, Bishop attended Harvard Business School for eight weeks to complete the Advanced Management Programme for senior managers. She has credited one of her lecturers there, George C. Lodge, with inspiring her to enter public life. In 1997, she was elected to the senate of Murdoch University and appointed as a director of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).</s><s>Early political involvement. Bishop joined the Liberal Party in 1992.

Julie Bishop

She has credited the WA Inc scandal with making her think she "did not ever want to see a Labor government elected again". She was chosen as the president of the Liberal party's CBD branch the year she joined the party, serving until 1997. In 1998, Senator Nick Minchin invited her to serve as an appointed delegate to the 1998 national constitutional convention. She was a "minimalist republican", and voted against the final model because she considered it too radical and unlikely to succeed at a referendum. At the convention, she became acquainted with Peter Costello, at the time serving as federal treasurer under John Howard.</s><s>Howard Government.</s><s>Howard Government.:First years in parliament. Prior to the 1998 federal election, Bishop won Liberal preselection for the Division of Curtin, which takes in Perth's western suburbs. Her preselection bid received the support of Premier Richard Court, who had earmarked her as a future member of federal cabinet. The seat had been held for 17 years by Allan Rocher, who was a personal friend of Prime Minister John Howard but had left the Liberals in 1995 to sit as an independent. Howard did not want the Liberals to run a candidate against Rocher, and refused to campaign for Bishop; however, Peter Costello and Alexander Downer

Julie Bishop

both supported her candidacy and Costello launched her campaign. At the election, she reclaimed the seat for the Liberals with a large swing in her favour. After the Liberal Party lost the 2001 state election in Western Australia, Bishop was suggested by multiple media sources as a possible replacement for Richard Court as state Liberal leader (and thus Leader of the Opposition). It was later confirmed that Court favoured an arrangement where he and his deputy and factional rival, Colin Barnett, would resign their seats in the Legislative Assembly. Bishop would resign from federal Parliament and hand her seat to Barnett, and Court would hand the leadership of the WA Liberals to Bishop once she was safely in the state legislature by way of winning either Court or Barnett's old seats, both of which were within Curtin's boundaries and were comfortably safe for the Liberals. However, Bishop eventually rejected the deal.</s><s>Howard Government.:Elevation to the ministry. Bishop was appointed Minister for Ageing by Prime Minister John Howard in 2003. She was later promoted to Minister for Education and Science and Minister for Women in 2006 and served in those positions until the defeat of the Howard Government at the 2007 federal election. As education minister, Bishop's policies centred on the development of national education standards as well as performance-based pay for teachers

Julie Bishop

. On 13 April 2007, the Australian State Governments jointly expressed opposition to Bishop's pay policy. In the 2007 budget, the Federal Government announced a $5 billion "endowment fund" for higher education, with the expressed goal of providing world-class tertiary institutions in Australia. Some of Bishop's public comments on education, including the remark that "the states have ideologically hijacked school syllabi and are wasting $180 million in unnecessary duplication", were criticised by teachers. An advance media kit for a 2006 speech claimed parts of the contemporary curriculum came "straight from Chairman Mao"; the remark was dropped from her speech.</s><s>Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Following the 2007 election, Bishop was elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party on 29 November 2007; Brendan Nelson was elected Leader. In a ballot of Liberal Party room members, Bishop comfortably won with 44 votes, one more than the combined total of her two competitors, Andrew Robb (with 25 votes) and Christopher Pyne (with 18 votes). On 22 September 2008, Bishop was promoted to the role of Shadow Treasurer by Nelson's successor as Opposition Leader, Malcolm Turnbull, making her the first woman to hold that portfolio. On 16 February 2009, however, she was moved from that position, with widespread media speculation that her colleagues

Julie Bishop

were dissatisfied with her performance in the role. She was instead given the job of Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. After Tony Abbott was elected Liberal Leader following the 2009 leadership spill, Bishop retained her roles as Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 2010, Bishop defended the suspected forgery of Australian passports by Mossad, saying that many countries practised the forging of passports for intelligence operations, including Australia. The Rudd Government attacked Bishop over the statements, saying she had "broken a long-standing convention" of not speculating about intelligence practices. She later clarified her statement, saying, "I have no knowledge of any Australian authority forging any passports of any nation." Following the Coalition's narrow loss in the 2010 federal election, Bishop was re-elected unanimously as Deputy Leader by her colleagues and retained the position of Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, while also being given the additional responsibility of Shadow Minister for Trade.</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs. After the Coalition won the 2013 federal election, new Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed Bishop as Minister for Foreign Affairs; she was sworn in by Governor-General Quentin Bryce on 18 September 2013. She became the only female member of the cabinet and was given the third-highest rank, after Abbott and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss. In

Julie Bishop

the months following her appointment several media reports claimed that Bishop, along with Social Services Minister Scott Morrison, were regarded internally as the best performing ministers in the Government. In December 2014, Bishop became only the second woman to serve as acting prime minister, after Julia Gillard. Throughout her tenure as foreign minister, Bishop had been frequently tipped by political commentators as a possible future leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister.</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs.:Foreign aid. One of Bishop's first steps after being appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs was to introduce sweeping changes to the Australian foreign aid program. These changes included abolition of the Australian foreign aid agency, AusAID, and extensive expenditure cuts. The new government was sworn into office on 18 September 2013. Incoming Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the same day that AusAID would be integrated into the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT). The news of the proposed integration had been conveyed by Bishop to senior AusAID staff some days earlier. The official explanation for the integration of AusAID into DFAT was that “Integration will enable DFAT to better pursue Australia's national interests by ensuring closer alignment and mutually reinforcing linkages among the Government's aid, foreign affairs and trade efforts.” The impact of the integration

Julie Bishop

on the quality of Australia's aid program led to considerable debate. Sceptics pointed to the departure of a considerable number of experienced aid professionals from the former AusAID while the process of integration was taking place and argued that the culture and priorities of DFAT were not supportive of a quality aid program. Those in favour of the change argued that closer alignment with foreign affairs would ensure that the aid program was more relevant and would provide better value for money. Subsequently, Bishop announced substantial expenditure cuts in the aid program. In Opposition, the Liberal Party had publicly endorsed the aim of maintaining the Australian aid budget at the level of 0.5% of GDP. Aid spending amounted to around $5.0 billion in 2014/15. However budget cuts introduced after the new government took office led to marked reductions. Expenditure was reduced to around $4.2 billion in 2015/16. Further reductions were introduced in following years. Aid spending as a share of GDP fell from 0.32% in 2014/15 to an estimated 0.23% in 2018/19.</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs.:New Colombo Plan. Months after the Abbott Government took office, Bishop announced the implementation of a New Colombo Plan which would provide undergraduate students with funding to study in

Julie Bishop

several different locations within the Indo-Pacific. The plan started off in pilot form and after initial success the full program was rolled out in 2015.</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs.:ISIS fighters. In a 2015 speech explaining the Australian Government's measures against ISIS, Bishop compared the psychological underpinnings of ISIS with that of Nazism. Citing Eric Hoffer's seminal work "The True Believer", she argued that the declared Caliphate drew from the same source that drove the masses to support Hitler; "Invincibility was—until the US-led airstrikes—all part of its attraction." In October 2014, Man Haron Monis wrote to Attorney-General George Brandis asking if he (Monis) could contact the leader of ISIS, two months before he took hostages in the Sydney siege. On 28 May 2015, Bishop told Parliament that the letter was provided to a review of the siege, before correcting the record three days later.</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs.:UN Security Council. Although Bishop fought against the Gillard Government's campaign to gain Australia a temporary two-year seat on the United Nations Security Council, she was widely lauded for her commanding performance when representing Australia on the Council in her capacity as Foreign Minister. She negotiated a successful resolution

Julie Bishop

that was adopted by the Council in regards to gaining full access to the crash site of Flight MH17. During the month of November 2014, Bishop chaired the Security Council and led meeting to discuss the threat of foreign fights, UN peacekeeping and the Ebola epidemic. Later, Bishop led negotiations to pass a resolution to set up an independent criminal tribunal into the downing of Flight MH17. Although Russia vetoed the resolution, Bishop was widely praised by other delegates for her work and for her strong statement following the veto that "the anticipated excuses and obfuscation by the Russian Federation should be treated with the utmost disdain".</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs.:Iran. In April 2015, Bishop paid an official visit to Iran, following the conclusion of a visit to India. She was the first Australian government minister to visit the country since 2003, having been personally invited by Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. They discussed the proposed nuclear deal and issues relating to Iranian asylum seekers in Australia. Bishop wore a headscarf or a hat for the duration of her visit, and did not shake hands with male dignitaries in order to avoid offending local sensibilities. She received some criticism for doing so, with Andrew Bolt rhetorically asking whether she should have "subjugated herself"

Julie Bishop

to Islamic law. Head coverings are not mandatory for foreign women visiting Iran. In response, she said: "As a matter of fact I wear scarves and hats and headgear quite often as part of my everyday wear".</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs.:Myanmar. In early September 2017, as the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar became ethnic cleansing, Bishop said that Australia was deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State and would provide up to to help Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. In 2018, Bishop called "for an end to the violence, for full and unhindered humanitarian access … and a full and transparent accountability of the human rights abuses". She also said that Australia's relationship with Myanmar Army "is designed to help promote positive change in Myanmar".</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs.:Indonesia. Bishop was involved at the highest level of negotiations with the Indonesian Government in attempts to save the lives of convicted drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan. Demonstrating Australia's opposition to the death penalty, Bishop was widely applauded for the manner in which she conducted negotiations. This was in stark contrast to the criticism faced by Tony Abbott who was ridiculed for remarks he made in regards to foreign aid provided by Australia to Indonesia. Despite

Julie Bishop

the Government's efforts, both Chan and Sukumaran were executed in April 2015. As a result of the executions, Bishop recalled the Australian Ambassador from Indonesia in condemnation of their decision. By August 2015, Bishop stated that Australia's relationship with Indonesia was "back on track" after privately meeting with the Indonesian Foreign Minister to discuss the fallout from the executions.</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs.:China. In May 2018, Geoff Raby, a former Australian Ambassador to China, criticised Bishop's handling of Australia–China relations, stating she had neglected the relationship between the countries and had angered Chinese leaders with "strident public comments on the South China Sea" and a speech questioning China's regional leadership. He called on Malcolm Turnbull to "replace the Foreign Minister with someone better equipped for the demands of the job". In response, Bishop said that Raby was "profoundly ignorant [...] about the level of engagement between Australia and China at present and the state of the relationship", and that he had not spoken to her or her office in several years. Turnbull said the opinion piece was "utterly wrong" and described Bishop as "a formidable foreign minister, a great diplomat and a great colleague".</s><s>Minister for Foreign Affairs.:Resignation and replacement. On 26

Julie Bishop

August 2018, Bishop issued a statement indicating that she would resign as Minister for Foreign Affairs. She was replaced by Senator Marise Payne on 28 August.</s><s>Liberal leadership issues.</s><s>Liberal leadership issues.:February 2015 leadership spill. In February 2015, in response to rising criticisms of his leadership, Tony Abbott called a spill of leadership positions. Both Julie Bishop and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull were reported by the media as considering challenging for the leadership. Opinion poll results consistently showed that both Bishop and Turnbull were preferred by the public to Abbott. Eventually a motion to move a leadership spill fell by 61 votes to 39, and Abbott consequentially remained in office.</s><s>Liberal leadership issues.:September 2015 leadership spill. On 14 September 2015, Malcolm Turnbull challenged Tony Abbott for the leadership of the Liberal Party. After Turnbull was elected, Bishop defeated a challenge from Kevin Andrews to retain her position as Deputy Leader by 70 votes to 30. Hours before Turnbull's challenge, Bishop had visited Abbott to advise him he had lost the confidence of the Parliamentary Liberal Party. She is said to have intended to vote for Abbott in the leadership vote until he declared her position vacant as well as his, after which she voted for Turnbull. Bishop was retained as Foreign Minister following the formation of the Turnbull Government.</s><s>

Julie Bishop

Liberal leadership issues.:August 2018 leadership spills. On 21 August 2018, Malcolm Turnbull called a leadership spill and defeated challenger Peter Dutton by 48 votes to 35. The deputy leadership was also declared vacant, with Bishop re-elected as deputy leader unopposed. Over the following days, there was widespread speculation about a second spill being called, and multiple media outlets reported on 23 August that Bishop would be a candidate for the leadership if that eventuated. A second spill was called on 24 August, and Bishop was eliminated on the first ballot with 11 votes out of 85 (or 12.9 percent). Morrison was elected leader over Dutton on the second ballot, and Josh Frydenberg was chosen as deputy leader. Bishop is the first woman to formally stand for the leadership of the Liberal Party, and only the second woman to stand for the leadership of one of Australia's two major parties, after the Labor Party's Julia Gillard.</s><s>Political positions. Bishop is regarded as a being a moderate within the Liberal Party, and has been described as holding similar views to Malcolm Turnbull. She has stated that she regards herself a "very liberal-minded person", an "economic dry and a social liberal", and a "Menzian Liberal". Bishop is in favour of an Australian

Julie Bishop

republic, having served as a delegate at the Constitutional Convention of 1998. When a conscience vote has been allowed by the Liberal Party, Bishop has always voted in a "progressive" manner, voting in favour of allowing stem cell research and for removing ministerial oversight of the abortion pill RU486.</s><s>Political positions.:Same-sex marriage. During the internal debate on same-sex marriage which divided the Liberal Party in August 2015, Bishop refused to publicly declare her personal views on the matter. However, her statement that she was "very liberally minded" on the topic was taken by many to be an allusion towards support of same-sex marriage. In a television interview in November 2015, Bishop confirmed that she supported same-sex marriage. In August 2015, Bishop spoke in favour of holding a plebiscite on the matter, believing that the issue should be put to a democratic vote so that it could no longer distract from the government's policy agenda. This ultimately became the policy adopted by the government. Following the postal plebiscite in 2017, which resulted in a "Yes" vote, Bishop stated that she had voted in support of same-sex marriage.</s><s>Retirement and later life. Following her retirement from political life, Bishop took up a position

Julie Bishop

on the board of the professional services company Palladium. In early August 2019 it was announced that she had agreed to take up the position of chancellor of Australian National University (ANU), commencing in January 2020. She would be the university's first female chancellor. Her predecessor is Gareth Evans, another former foreign minister. As chancellor, she will receive an annual honorarium of $75,000, the same amount as the outgoing chancellor Evans received in his final year. When the United Kingdom assumed the presidency of the G7 in 2021, Bishop was appointed by the country's Minister for Women and Equalities Liz Truss to a newly formed Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) chaired by Sarah Sands. From 2021 to 2022, she was a member of the Trilateral Commission’s Task Force on Global Capitalism in Transition, chaired by Carl Bildt, Kelly Grier and Takeshi Niinami. In early March 2023 it was announced that she had signed on to speak at a series of leadership events in Sydney and Melbourne with former president of the United States Barack Obama. Later that month Bishop joined luxury Australian department store David Jones in a brand ambassador role. Consulting Work Following her retirement from Parliament, Bishop established consulting firm "Julie Bishop & Partners". It

Julie Bishop

was reported in January 2020 that Bishop had taken up a position with the UK financial firm Greensill Capital in December 2019 to "provide strategic advice to Greensill and serve as chair of Greensill Asia Pacific" as the company accelerated its expansion in the region. Lex Greensill, the founder of Greensill Capital, said that the company would "draw on Julie's unparalleled experience and expertise -- particularly her international credentials cemented during five years as Australia's foreign minister." Over a year later, a scandal involving Greensill emerged in the United Kingdom. In April 2021 it was reported in the "Financial Times" and "The Sunday Times" that former UK prime minister David Cameron had been involved in lobbying activities within the UK government on behalf of Greensill. Shortly afterwards, it was reported in "The Australian Financial Review" that as part of Bishop's consulting activities with Greensill Capital in early 2020, she had attended meetings in Davos in Switzerland organised by Lex Greensill. In the meetings in Davos, Bishop joined with David Cameron to meet Lex Greensill to discuss the affairs of the company. In Davos, she and Lex Greensill also reportedly met the then-Australian finance minister Mathias Cormann. Cormann, who in March 2021 was elected as Secretary-General of

Julie Bishop

the OECD, is reported to have said that he was asked by Bishop to meet with Lex Greensill and David Cameron. These meetings in Davos took place shortly after Bishop had taken up her position as Chancellor of the ANU. Bishop's activities with Greensill in Davos were reportedly arranged "in the margins" of an ANU function for Australians and Australian businesses in Davos. In June, it was reported that Australian Treasury officials had confirmed to an Australian Senate committee that Bishop had lobbied Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on behalf of Greensill and that Labor Party members of the Australian Parliamentary Committee on Corporations and Financial Services were pressing to have Bishop called before the committee for questioning. In connection with Bishop's connections with Greensill, the Australian Attorney General's Department confirmed that the Department had written to Bishop seeking clarification of her role at Greensill at the time that she contacted Frydenberg's office on behalf of the company.</s><s>Personal life. Bishop was married to property developer Neil Gillon from 1983 to 1988, taking his surname for the duration of the marriage. She later had relationships with Senator Ross Lightfoot and former Lord Mayor of Perth Peter Nattrass. She was in a relationship with businessman David Panton from 2014 to 2022. Bishop does not have children.

Julie Bishop

In response to repeated media inquiries about the subject, she has stated that "I'm not having kids, there's no point lamenting what was or what could have been", and that she feels "incredibly lucky that I've had the kind of career that is so consuming that I don't feel I have a void in my life".</s><s>Honours. - Foreign honours - 5 September 2014: Commander of the Order of Merit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs - 24 October 2018: US Mission Award for Leadership Excellence, United States Mission, Australia</s>


Prompt: Question: Tell me a bio of Vishal (actor).

Vishal (actor)

<s>Vishal (actor) Vishal Krishna Reddy (born 29 August 1975), also known as Vishal, is an Indian actor and film producer from Tamil films. The younger son of film producer G. K. Reddy, Vishal studied Visual Communications at Loyola College, Chennai. Best known for his roles in action films, he produces films under his production company, Vishal Film Factory. Vishal made an entrance into the film industry as an assistant director for Arjun. He then became an actor and played his first lead role in the romantic thriller "Chellamae" (2004), before acting in the action films "Sandakozhi", "Thimiru", "Thaamirabharani" and "Malaikottai". Vishal chose to create his own production studio and has since produced and worked on "Pandiya Naadu" (2013), "Naan Sigappu Manithan" (2014) and "Poojai" (2014). Vishal was elected as the General Secretary of the Nadigar Sangam in October 2015 after initiating a movement against the previous committee. He was expelled from Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC) for remarks against the council. Later in

Vishal (actor)

April 2017, he won the election as President of Tamil Film Producers Council.</s><s>Early life and education. Vishal Krishna Reddy was born on 29 August 1975 into a Telugu family in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father GK Reddy is a businessman and a film producer for Telugu and Tamil films. His elder brother Vikram Krishna is also an actor and producer who has produced several of Vishal's films. Vishal did his schooling at Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai. He was then graduated in visual communications from the Loyola College, Chennai.</s><s>Acting career.</s><s>Acting career.:2004–2011. Vishal assisted actor-director Arjun Sarja in his venture "Vedham" (2001), and a producer spotted Vishal on the sets of the film and signed him to appear in an acting role in Gandhi Krishna's "Chellamae" (2004). Accepting the role, Vishal prepared by joining Koothu-P-Pattarai to hone his acting skills and played the protagonist role of Raghunandan, whose wife is kidnapped by her childhood friend. A critic described his performance is "apt" but "there was plenty left to hone". His

Vishal (actor)

next film was "Sandakozhi" (2005) with N. Linguswamy, who had previously worked with his father's production house as an assistant director. Vishal was described to have "improved from his "Chellamae" days" and "clicked as an action hero". Film journalists stated that he was "the fastest rising action hero" of the time. After a cameo as himself in Sasi's "Dishyum" (2006), he went on to appear in Tarun Gopi's action film "Thimiru" (2006). The film opened to mixed reviews with Vishal being praised for his intense performance with a critic calling his performance "the film's only strength and, to an extent, making up for the weak script and poor characterisation". The film became Vishal's third consecutive commercial success, and he began to emerge in Tamil films. His next film, the political action drama "Sivappathigaram" (2006), directed by Karu Pazhaniappan was a failure financially despite favourable reviews. His next film was released in January 2007, Hari's multi-starring family action drama "Thaamirabharani" (2007) and the film went on

Vishal (actor)

to gain considerable box office success, carrying good reports amidst other big budget releases. Later in the year, he appeared in Boopathy Pandian's "Malaikottai" (2007), a comedy entertainer. In his first full-length comic role, Vishal received mixed feedback for his portrayal from critics, with Rediff stating that he is "a far cry from the rather endearing young man in Sandakozhi", whilst describing his performance as "cringe-able". Behindwoods stated it as an "Average masala-mix entertainer". The film took a large opening and was declared a blockbuster, featuring in the top 10 at behindwoods box office. In the year 2008, for the first time, Vishal portrayed a police officer in "Sathyam", which became a commercial failure at the box office. Then both his films "Thoranai" (2009) and "Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai" (2010) were just average grossers. Additionally, the box-office duds, "Sathyam" and "Thoranai", both of which were bilingual in Tamil and Telugu, failed to establish his popularity in Telugu cinema. Vishal was then given the opportunity to feature in B

Vishal (actor)

ala's dark comedy "Avan Ivan" (2011), after being recommended to the director by his friend Arya. Portraying a village stage actor with a squint, Vishal had severe eye pain and headaches, and he also had a serious muscular injury on sets. The film opened to mixed reviews, though Vishal's performance won positive reviews. "Indiaglitz" stated that Vishal delivered an "award winning performance" and that his "mannerisms and body language give you goosebumps". The reviewer further cited that "Vishal's spontaneous response to his mentor's death in the movie is touching. His demonstration of "Navarasas" in front of actor Suriya will melt you in tears". Vishal played the role of a police officer in his following release "Vedi" (2011), directed by Prabhu Deva, which was declared an instant flop at the box office.</s><s>Acting career.:2013–present. In the 2013 film "Samar", Vishal played a forest trek guide. Behindwoods stated that he "rocks in the action sequences". Following a cameo role in "Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru", he starred in the action films "P

Vishal (actor)

attathu Yaanai" and "Pandiya Naadu". The latter was Vishal's debut production venture, while the former was the film debut of Aishwarya Arjun, the daughter of Arjun Sarja. Vishal opted to produce and collaborate with Thiru for a third venture "Naan Sigappu Manithan" (2014), a revenge drama, in which his character had narcolepsy. To prepare for the lead role, Vishal read up and studied real life case studies of people with the disorder, citing that there were no references from cinema which he could watch and learn. Then he had acted under director Hari for the second time in "Poojai" (2014), which did somewhat good business at the box office. In 2015, he acted two films, namely, "Aambala" and "Paayum Puli". In 2016, he appeared in three movies; "Kathakali", "Marudhu" and "Kaththi Sandai". The first two were average grossers, while "Kaththi Sandai" became a flop at the box office. In January 2017, Vishal signed his debut Malayalam film, as the main antagonist in

Vishal (actor)

the Mohanlal-starrer "Villain", directed by B. Unnikrishnan. In September 2017, Vishal played a detective in "Thupparivaalan" directed by Mysskin which was loosely based on the British writer Arthur Conan Doyle's detective character, Sherlock Holmes. The film was a commercial success and was appreciated by audiences and critics. In 2018, Vishal had two major releases. The first one was "Irumbu Thirai" directed by newcomer P. S. Mithran which released in May 2018. And second was "Sandakozhi 2" released in October 2018 was written and directed by N. Linguswamy. A sequel to the successful "Sandakozhi" (2005), the film stars Vishal in his 25th film. The film turned out to be an average grosser. In 2019, he did one movie titled "Action" directed by Sundar C. The film received mixed reviews and was a box office failure. In 2021, he acted in the action thriller "Chakra" directed my newcomer M.S Anandan. The film which released on 19 February, received mixed reviews from critics and audience.</s><s>Acting career.:Tamil Film Producers Council (2017–

Vishal (actor)

present). He was elected as "President" of Tamil Film Producers Council election, which was held on 2 April 2017. Apart from this, Vishal is also a staunch advocate against online piracy since 2014, having started an anti-piracy cell.</s><s>Acting career.:Television. He made his television début in October 2018 as a host of "Sun Naam Oruvar", a talk show airing on Sun TV.</s><s>Politics. Vishal filed his nomination as an independent candidate for the by-poll to Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency in Chennai, which fell vacant following Jayalalithaa's death in December 2017. But his nomination was rejected.</s><s>Legal issues. Vishal was arrested by police in December 2018 when he tried to enter inside the Tamil Film Producers Council in T Nagar, Chennai by forcefully trying to break the lock. The council was locked by 300 film producers alleging that Vishal failed to fulfil his promises during the elections in 2015.</s><s>Playback singing. Vishal made his debut as a playback singer in Madha Gaja Raja, an unreleased film directed by Sundar C, crapping up for the song My Dear Loveru.</s><s>Filmography.</s><s>Filmography.:Film

Vishal (actor)

. - "All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted."</s>


Prompt: Question: Tell me a bio of Adnan Sami.

Adnan Sami

<s>Adnan Sami Adnan Sami Khan (born 15 August 1971) is an Indian singer, musician, music composer and pianist. He performs Indian and Western music, including for Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Tamil movies. He has been awarded with Padma Shri (India's fourth highest civilian award) for his remarkable contribution in music. His most notable instrument is the piano. He has been credited as "the first musician to have played the santoor and Indian classical music on the piano". A review in the US-based "Keyboard" magazine described him as the fastest keyboard player in the world and called him the keyboard discovery of the nineties. He was raised and educated in the United Kingdom and spent his life in Canada. He was born to Arshad Sami Khan, a Pakistani Air Force veteran and diplomat of Pashtun origin, and Naureen, who was originally from the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. "The Times of India" has called him the "Sultan of Music". In 2016 he became an Indian citizen. He was awarded the Padma Shri on 26 January 2020.</s><s>Early life and education. Sami was born in London, England on 15 August 1971. He was

Adnan Sami

raised and educated in the United Kingdom. His father, Arshad Sami Khan, was a Pakistani Pashtun while his mother Naureen Khan was an Indian from Jammu. Adnan's father served as a Pakistan Air Force pilot, before becoming a senior bureaucrat and serving as Pakistan's ambassador to 14 countries. His paternal great-great-grandfather, General Ahmed Jan, was from Afghanistan and a military advisor to king Abdur Rahman Khan. His paternal great-grandfather Agha Mehfooz Jan was the governor of four Afghan provinces under King Amanullah Khan's reign and was also the King's first cousin, while his paternal grandfather Abdul Sami Khan served as the Deputy Inspector General of Police. Agha Mehfooz Jan was assassinated by Habibullah Kalakani and therefore Sami's father's family migrated to Peshawar, then in British India. Sami attended Rugby School in Rugby, West Midlands, UK. Adnan followed his bachelor's degree with a law degree (LLB) from King's College London. He went on to qualify as a barrister from Lincoln's Inn, England. He had played the piano since the age of five and composed his first piece of music when he was nine years old. Sami began taking lessons

Adnan Sami

in Indian classical music from the santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma when visiting India during his school vacations. Indian singer Asha Bhosle saw him at age ten at an R. D. Burman concert in London, and encouraged him to take up music as a career. He is an accomplished concert pianist, music composer and singer with a command of Indian and Western classical/semi-classical music, jazz, rock and pop music. As a teenager, Adnan, when performing on the piano on a TV program in Stockholm, was described by the US-based "Keyboard" magazine as the fastest man on keyboard in the world and the keyboard discovery of the nineties. Sami went on to learn Indian classical music from Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, the Santoor maestro in India. At the age of sixteen, Sami was approached to write a song for famine-hit Ethiopia, for which he won a special award from UNICEF. In his career of 32 years, Sami has won many international awards including the Nigar Award, Bolan Academy Award and Graduate Award. Adnan is the youngest recipient of the Naushad Music Award for Excellence in Music. Previous recipients of this award include Lata Mang

Adnan Sami

eshkar and Music Maestro Khayam. Sami was invited as a member of the jury of the music festival Voice of Asia competition held annually at Almaty, Kazakhstan.</s><s>Career. His first single, "Run for His Life", was released in 1986. It was in English, and recorded for UNICEF. It went to No. 1 in the music charts in the Middle East. This was followed by three more No. 1s: "Talk to Me", "Hot Summer Day" and "You're My Best Kept Secret". His first formal album, "The One & Only" (1989), was a classical album on the piano accompanied by tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. He released his first vocal solo album "Raag Time" in 1991. The song from his album "Teri Yaad" was the title track of his first album, which became a huge hit in Pakistan. In 1994, he composed music for a film for the first time. The 1995 Pakistani film "Sargam", in which he was the lead actor and Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle did the playback "Sargam", was a box office success. It was also the first time that an Indian playback singer was featured in

Adnan Sami

an album in Pakistan. To date "Sargam" is the only film Sami has acted in, and the score is the best-selling album of all time in Pakistan. In 2000, Asha Bhosle collaborated with Sami on a collection of love songs named "Kabhi to Nazar Milao" in India. The music was also composed by Adnan. The album became an instant success and topped the Indipop charts for most of 2001 and 2002. According to "Business Week" magazine, the album sold 4 million copies in India alone. Two songs from the album "Kabhi To Nazar Milao", whose music video featured model Aditi Gowitrikar, and "Lift Karaa De", whose music video starred the popular Indian actor Govinda became popular at that time. The videos were shot by Anil Mehta, who had shot popular Hindi films like "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" and "Lagaan". Because of the album's success, Magnasound and Sami released an album named "Always Yours" which was a remix version of numbers from that album. He soon became popular, which led Hindi filmmaker Boney Kapoor to invite him to provide music for his film. This

Adnan Sami

was the beginning for him to compose and sing for Hindi films and for the top Hindi film producers of the time like Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai. Due to the popularity of his music videos and live performances, he started getting acting offers at the same time. The song "Tu Sirf Mera Mehboob" from the Hindi film "Ajnabee", sung by Adnan, became popular and was declared a "superhit" by "Screen Magazine", who called him the pop personality of the year in 2001. In 2002, Pepsi Foods made Sami its brand ambassador in India, a contract which involved hosting a series of live music concerts across cities as well as featuring in ads for Pepsi products. He is the only artist in all of Asia and Europe to have endorsed Pepsi Cola and Coca-Cola together. According to the Pakistani newspaper "Dawn", no Pakistani artist has ever managed to gain as much popularity in India as Sami has. According to an article in "The Times of India", Sami is the "most successful face in non-film music in India". His second studio album, "Tera Chehra", was released in October 2002 to critical acclaim. The music videos for this album were shot by Binod Prad

Adnan Sami

han, who had shot the popular 2002 Hindi film "Devdas". The album features Bollywood stars Rani Mukerji in the title track and Amitabh Bachchan in the track "Kabhi Nahi", who also sang the duet with Sami. Actress Mahima Chaudhry was also seen in another song. The title track was written by well-known Hindi movie lyricist Sameer. According to "Screen Magazine", it was the only successful pop album of the year. Sami's "Tera Chehra" broke sales records by becoming India's best-selling album of 2002 (including film soundtracks), continuing its No. 1 position in 2003, and by becoming the best-selling Indian album of all time (including film soundtracks) in the U.S. and Canada. The album stayed in the No. 1 position in all the music charts of India from the time of its release in September 2002 for over a year, beating his debut album's No. 1 record. "Saathiya" (2002) brought him the opportunity to work with A. R. Rahman in the form of "Aye Udi Udi". According to "Screen Magazine", the song was "the highlight of the album". Red

Adnan Sami

iff.com called him the "Reigning King of Indipop" in early 2003 based on the sales of his albums in the previous two years. His most successful albums have been "Kabhi To Nazar Milao" (with Asha Bhosle) and "Tera Chehra", and his music videos usually have had Bollywood stars in them, including Namrata Shirodkar ("Bheegi Bheegi Raat"), Mahima Chaudhry, Raveena Tandon, Rani Mukerji ("Tera Chehra"), Govinda, Fardeen Khan, Amisha Patel ("O Meri Jaan"), Bhumika Chawla ("Maahiya"), Dia Mirza ("Pal Do Pal") and Amitabh Bachchan (Kabhi Nahi). Since 2003, he has sung for a few Tamil movies like "Boys", "Aaytha Ezhuthu" composed by A. R. Rahman. The songs, "Boom Boom" from "Boys" and "Nenjamellam Kadhal" from "Aayitha Ezhuthu", were hits. He also sang for the Tamil and Telugu versions besides the Hindi version of songs from

Adnan Sami

the movie "Yuva" (2004), whose music was also composed by A. R. Rahman. Besides Rahman, he has also worked with composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, and sang the Tamil songs "Oh Intha Kadhal" from "Satham Podathey" and "OruKal" from "Siva Manasula Sakthi". He sang the song "Chanchadi Adi Urang Nee" in the Malayalam movie "Makalkku". He has also sung for a Kannada film. His first Kannada song was "Don't Worry Madabeda" for the film "Super Star" starring Upendra. He has also worked with music composers Devi Sri Prasad and M. M. Keeravani and sang songs in Telugu films "Varsham", "Chatrapathi", "Shankar Dada MBBS" and "100% Love". In 2005, he suffered from lymphoedema and developed an abscess in the knee, which interrupted his career. In 2006, he took a sabbatical and reportedly lost 130 kg. He came back in April 2007 with the album "Kisi Din". In 2007, he sang the soundtrack "D

Adnan Sami

il Kya Kare" from the Hindi film "" and "Noor-e-Khuda" from "My Name Is Khan". He was also one of the guest judges on the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007. He has composed film music for several other Hindi films, including "", "Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke", "Dhamaal", "1920", "Chance Pe Dance", "Mumbai Salsa", "Khubsoorat", "Sadiyaan", "Shaurya" and several others. As a classical concert pianist, Sami has given solo performances before royalty such as the King of Sweden and King Hussein of Jordan. He has performed before heads of state and governments such as President Mitterrand of France, the President of the United Arab Emirates, the President and Prime Minister of India, the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, the President and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, the Prime Minister of Sweden and Princess Christina of Sweden. Adnan has performed for music festivals to sold-out stadiums of his solo concert tours all over the world in over forty countries. Sami wrote a song for India during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The video of this song captures

Adnan Sami

the nationalistic spirit of competition, depicting Adnan performing with the Indian cricket team with guest appearances from Indian film stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan and Kareena Kapoor. His work has associated him with prominent people from the Indian film and music industry. On 15 December 2002, BBC World Service celebrated 70 years of broadcasting by organizing a worldwide live concert with artists representing different parts of the world who performed before a global audience via satellite. Sami was chosen to represent India. In the summer of 2003, Sami became the only musical artist from the entire Asian region to have sold out Wembley Stadium in London for two nights in a row; this was recorded in the Limca Book of World Records (Asia's equivalent to the West's "Guinness Book of World Records"). He did this again in 2005, 2008, and 2012. In 2010, Sami received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Prime Minister of Pakistan at a ceremony by Pakistan Television. In 2011, Sami was given the "Glory of India Award" by the India International Friendship Society. This was the 350th anniversary of the completion of the Taj Mahal, and Sami gave a solo concert performance in front of the Taj

Adnan Sami

Mahal on the final night of the celebrations. After this performance, the Indian media dubbed him the "Sultan of Music". He hosted the Indian version of the American music game show "Don't Forget the Lyrics!" called "Bol Baby Bol" on the Star TV network in 2008. Prior to that in 2005, he was the sole jury for the singing competition program on Channel [V] called "Super Singer". In 2011, Adnan returned as a judge on the singing reality show "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs", which became popular worldwide. He performed a qawwali "Bhar Do Jholi Meri" in the 2015 film "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", he appeared in the movie as well.</s><s>Personal life. Sami first married to actress Zeba Bakhtiar in 1993, with whom he had a son named Azaan Sami Khan. They divorced after three years. Sami began living in India since 13 March 2001, on a visitor's visa which was extended from time to time. In 2001, Sami married Dubai-based Arab Sabah Galadari. This was his second marriage and Sabah's second marriage as well; she had a son from her

Adnan Sami

previous marriage. This relationship also ended in divorce, a year-and-a-half later. In June 2006, he weighed 230 kilograms (506 lb); he claimed his doctor had given him just six months to live. By diet and exercise, he lost in 16 months. In 2008, his wife Sabah returned to Mumbai, remarried him and began living with him, but the marriage only lasted one year, after which Sabah filed for divorce again. In 2009, his father died of pancreatic cancer, which he described as the "biggest blow" of his life, saying that he had been extremely close to his father. On 29 January 2010 Sami married Roya Sami Khan, the daughter of a retired diplomat and army general. He first met Roya in India during her visit in 2010 and proposed to her after some time. On 10 May 2017, he became a father to a daughter, Medina Sami Khan. On 26 May 2015, he submitted a request for Indian citizenship to the Ministry of Home Affairs, when his Pakistani passport expired, he had lived an adequate number of years in India that made him eligible for Indian citizenship hence he naturalised as an Indian citizen. In late December 2015, the Indian Home Ministry approved his request for

Adnan Sami

legal status as a citizen of India, effective as of 1 January 2016.</s><s>Filmography.</s><s>Filmography.:As an actor. - "Sargam" (1995) - "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" (2015)</s><s>Filmography.:As a music director and composer. - "Sargam" (1995) - "Love at Times Square" (2003) - "" (2005) - "Dhamaal" (2007) - "Mumbai Salsa" (2007) - "Khushboo" (2008) - "1920" (2008) - "Shaurya" (2008) - "Daddy Cool", co-director: Raghav Sachar - "Sadiyaan" (2010) - "Chance Pe Dance" (2010), co-director: Pritam Chakraborty, Ken Ghosh, Sandeep Shirodkar</s><s>Discography. "Badaltay Mausam" (1997) was re-released in India as "Kabhi To Nazar Milao" (2000).</s><s>Awards and accolades. Sami has won a number of international awards, including the Nigar Award, the Bolan Academy Award

Adnan Sami

, and the Graduate Award. He was given a special award by UNICEF for the song he wrote for famine-hit Ethiopia as a teenager and a United Nations Peace Medal for a song he wrote and performed for Africa. A review of his piano solo performance on British TV Channel 4 in "Keyboard" magazine called him the "Keyboard Discovery of the 90s". In 2001, he was awarded the Breakthrough Artist of the Year by MTV. Swedish and British radio and television have often referred to him as the fastest keyboard player in the world. Adnan has performed for prestigious music festivals to sold-out stadiums of his solo concert tours all over the world in over forty countries. In summer 2003, he became the only Asian artist to have sold out Wembley Stadium, London, for two consecutive nights, which won him a place in the Limca Book of Records. As a classical concert pianist, Sami has given performances before the King of Sweden and King Hussein of Jordan. In 2007, Sami was given a Special Award from the U.K. Parliament (House of Commons) for his 'Outstanding Contribution to Sub-Continental Music'. In 2008, he was presented the "Naushad Music Award" by Andhra Pradesh Department of Culture,

Adnan Sami

in Hyderabad. In 2008 he also won "Best International Act" at the UK Asian Music Awards. In 2013, he was given the BrandLaureate International Brand Personality award by the President of The BrandLaureate, Dr KK Johan, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Later in 2013, Sami was given a Special Award by the Canadian Parliament for his 'Exceptional Services to Indian Music'. In April 2017, Sami became the first South Asian to have performed at London's Wembley Stadium 8 times; tickets were sold out on all 8 occasions. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, attended the concert. In January 2020, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour in the field of Arts, by Government of India. He received the award from President of India on 8 November 2021</s>


Prompt: Question: Tell me a bio of Grant Bowler.

Grant Bowler

<s>Grant Bowler Grant Bowler (born 18 July 1968) is a New Zealand-Australian actor and television presenter who has worked in American, Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian film, television, and theatre. He is known for playing the role of Constable Wayne Patterson in "Blue Heelers" and Wolfgang West in "Outrageous Fortune". He also appeared as Wilhelmina Slater's love interest Connor Owens in "Ugly Betty". He starred as Joshua Nolan on the Syfy television series "Defiance". As a presenter, he was best known for hosting reality game shows – including "The Mole Australia" and "The Amazing Race Australia", both of which aired on the Seven Network. Bowler has been the voiceover for "" for the Seven Network since 2004. He has also provided the voiceover for the and the American version of the show when those version screen in Australia & New Zealand as "Border Security: International", which often air on 7two.</s><s>Personal life. Bowler was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but moved to Australia when he was young, and was raised in Brisbane. In 2011, he separated from his wife of nine years, Australian actress Roxane Wilson, with whom he has two children.</s><s>Career

Grant Bowler

. Bowler is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art. He worked extensively in theatre with the Bell Shakespeare Company touring with the original company founded by John Bell. His first television role was as Constable Wayne Patterson on "Blue Heelers", from 1993 to 1996. After leaving that show, he spent time on "Pacific Drive" in 1996 and "Medivac" from 1996 to 1998. He had recurring roles on "Always Greener" and "Stingers", starred in the television adaptation of "On the Beach", spent a year on the ABC series "Something in the Air", and starred in the 2004 miniseries "Through My Eyes" about the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain. Bowler had a recurring role on "All Saints" from 2004 to 2005. Bowler also hosted the Australian version of "The Mole", hosting the show from 2000 to 2003. He was replaced as host on the 2005 series by Tom Williams because of family commitments and hosting duties with "". Bowler serves as the narrator of the reality show "", a duty which he began as host in 2004, though he stopped appearing on camera after the first season. Bowler starred in the New Zealand series "Outrageous Fortune". Bowler's acting career has developed since

Grant Bowler

he first began playing Wolf, but although the character is not in every episode, he has turned down other roles to continue in "Outrageous Fortune". Starting with the season four episode "Ji Yeon", Bowler plays the guest role of Captain Gault, the captain of a freighter on the popular American television series "Lost". In 2008, he became a recurring regular on "Ugly Betty", in which he played the corrupt CFO of Meade Publications (Connor Owens) who romanced the series' main villain Wilhelmina Slater. Bowler said of his character, "He's got a lot of evil secrets." In December 2009, he was cast in the role of Cooter, a werewolf, in the HBO urban fantasy series "True Blood", for that show's third season. In late 2010, he was announced as the host of Seven Network's "The Amazing Race Australia" and hosted the show for 3 seasons. He did not return to host for the 2019 Network 10 revival of the series, being replaced by Beau Ryan. He played Hank Rearden in "" (2011), the first part of a planned three-part film adaptation of Ayn Rand's novel of the same name. He was also seen in 2011 in "The

Grant Bowler

City of Gardens", as well as the film "Killer Elite". In 2012, Bowler was cast as Richard Burton opposite Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor in the biographical TV-movie "Liz & Dick" for Lifetime in the US. He was seen in the war drama "Gallipoli", released in 2015 on Channel 9, Australia. Bowler was also seen in the psychological action film "Swelter", alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and Alfred Molina, in the sci-fi thriller "400 Days" with Brandon Routh and Dane Cook, "Lucky Dog" with Amy Smart, and the family movie, "Zooey to the Max". In 2020, Bowler appeared in a recurring role in "The Baker and the Beauty" playing the Australian father of lead character Noa Hamilton, played by Nathalie Kelley.</s>


Prompt: Question: Tell me a bio of Shoya Nakajima.

Shoya Nakajima

<s>Shoya Nakajima After starting his career with Tokyo Verdy of the J2 League and FC Tokyo of the J1 League, he spent several years in Portugal's Primeira Liga with Portimonense and Porto. He also had brief spells in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. He was part of the Japanese under-23 team at the 2016 Olympics. First capped at senior level in 2018, he was part of the Japan team at the 2019 Copa América.</s><s>Club career.</s><s>Club career.:Portimonense. On 27 August 2017, Nakajima moved abroad for the first time, signing a season-long loan with Portimonense of Portugal's Primeira Liga. After scoring 10 goals and as many assists in 32 total matches for the team from the Algarve, he signed a permanent deal in May 2018.</s><s>Club career.:Al Duhail. In February 2019, Nakajima joined Qatar Stars League side Al Duhail for a reported transfer fee of €35 million. He played seven games for the eventual runners-up, and scored once in a 6–0 home win over Al Ahli on 28 February.</s><s>Club career.:Porto. On 5 July 2019, Porto

Shoya Nakajima

announced an agreement with Al-Duhail for the acquisition of Nakajima's sports rights, in a €12 million transfer fee (50% of the player economic rights). He signed a five-year contract, keeping him contractually linked until 30 June 2024, with an €80 million release clause. Nakajima made his Porto debut on 13 August 2019 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round away to Krasnodar, playing the full 90 minutes of a 3–2 loss that eliminated the team on the away goals rule. He scored his first goal on 19 December 2019, the only one of a home win over Santa Clara in the fifth round of the Taça de Portugal, his 17th appearance. On 16 January 2021, Nakajima joined Al Ain of the UAE Pro League on a six-month loan deal including an optional €40 million transfer clause. After his time in the Middle East was ended by a tibia break, on 25 August that year he returned on loan to Portimonense for a season.</s><s>Club career.:Antalyaspor. Nakajima signed for Turkish club Antalyaspor in 2022. He made his debut on 18 September 2022 against Adana Demirspor, coming on

Shoya Nakajima

the 59th minute only to be sent off in just 20 seconds after receiving a red card for a late sliding tackle.</s><s>International career.</s><s>International career.:Youth level and under-23 career. Nakajima was first selected to represent the Japanese under-17 national team when he was called up to the Slovakia Cup, a friendly tournament in early May 2011 that served the purpose of preparing the squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. A month later, he was in Mexico playing at the 2011 U-17 World Cup, where he appeared in two matches and scored one goal in a 3–2 loss against Brazil in the quarter-finals. In August 2013, Nakajima was called for the Japanese under-20 national team to participate in the L'Alcúdia International Football Tournament in Spain. The squad was eliminated in the group stage, and he scored in a 2–1 win against Argentina. In January 2014, Nakajima played for the Japanese under-23 national team in the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship. He appeared in all three matches of the group stage, scoring once against Iran and twice against Australia, as the team reached the quarter-finals. In September 2014, Nakajima was called for the 2014 Asian

Shoya Nakajima

Games, scoring against Iraq and Nepal in the group stage. The team reached the quarter-finals. In March 2015, he played two matches in the AFC U-23 Championship qualification and scored a double against Vietnam. The team reached the first place of the group and was granted the qualification for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship. In January 2016, he participated in the championship, scoring a double in the extra-time of the quarter-finals match against Iraq and eventually won the competition with a 3–2 triumph against South Korea. Nakajima was also crown the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. In August 2016, he was selected for the Japanese Olympic national team (under-23) that competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He played three matches and scored a goal against Colombia, while the team came third in the group stage.</s><s>International career.:Senior career. On 15 March 2018, Nakajima was called by national manager Vahid Halilhodžić for upcoming matches against Mali and Ukraine. Eight days later, he debuted and scored his first goal for Japanese national team against Mali in a 1–1 draw. Hajime Moriyasu named Nakajima in the squad for the 2019 Copa América

Shoya Nakajima

in Brazil, which Japan guest entered with a mainly under-23 team. He scored the opening goal against Ecuador in the last group game in Belo Horizonte, but the 1–1 draw eliminated the team.</s><s>Career statistics.</s><s>Career statistics.:Club.</s><s>Career statistics.:International.</s><s>Honours. Al-Duhail - Qatar Emir Cup: 2019 Porto - Primeira Liga: 2019–20 - Taça de Portugal: 2019–20 Japan U23 - AFC U-23 Championship: 2016 Individual - AFC U-23 Championship Most Valuable Player: 2016 - Primeira Liga Forward of the Month: October/November 2017 - Primeira Liga Player of the Month: September 2018 - SPJF Goal of the Month: November 2017 vs Tondela - SPJF Goal of the Month: February 2018 vs Feirense</s>


Prompt: Question: Tell me a bio of Ziaur Rahman.

Ziaur Rahman

<s>Ziaur Rahman Lt. General Ziaur Rahman (19 January 1936 – 30 May 1981), was a Bangladeshi military officer and politician who served as the President of Bangladesh from 1977 to 1981. He was assassinated on 30 May 1981 in Chittagong in an coup d'état staged by some of his colleagues in army. Rahman was a Bangladesh Forces Commander of BDF Sector 1 initially, and from June as BDF commander of BDF Sector 11 of the Bangladesh Forces and the Brigade Commander of Z Force from mid-July during the country's Independence war from Pakistan in 1971. He originally broadcast the Bangladesh declaration of independence on 27 March from Kalurghat radio station in Chittagong. After the war of Independence, Rahman became a brigade commander in Bangladesh Army, and later the deputy chief of staff and chief of staff of Bangladesh Army. His ascent to leadership of the country resulted from a conspiracy that had begun with the killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of Bangladesh, in a military coup d'état followed by a coup and counter-revolt within the military to gain control at the helm. Ziaur Rahman gained "de facto" power as head of the government already under martial law imposed by the Mushta

Ziaur Rahman

q government. He took over the presidency in 1977. As president in 1978, Rahman founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (popularly known by its abbreviation BNP). He reinstated multi-party politics, freedom of the press, free speech and free markets and accountability. He initiated mass irrigation and food production programmes, including social programmes to uplift the lives of the people. His government initiated efforts to create a regional group in South Asia, which later became SAARC in 1985. He improved Bangladesh's relations with the West and China, and departed from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's close alignment with India. Domestically, Rahman faced as many as twenty-one coup attempts for which trials were set up, and many soldiers and officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces were executed, which were mostly claimed to be biased and false trials. He was criticized for passing the Indemnity Act and removing the ban on religion-based political parties. Rahman was awarded two gallantry awards for two wars fought in South Asia. Hilal-i-Jurat for the Indo-Pak War in 1965, and Bir Uttom in 1972 for the Bangladesh Independence war 1971 for his wartime contributions. According to the 1986 book "" written by Anthony Mascarenhas, Rahman retired from the Bangladesh Army as

Ziaur Rahman

a Lt. General (promoted by himself) in 1978 with effect from 29 April. The political party Rahman formed in 1978, the BNP, has remained one of the two dominant political parties of Bangladesh alongside its chief rival, the Awami League. Since Rahman's death, his wife, Khaleda Zia, has presided as chairperson of the party and served 2 full terms as prime minister during her tenure.</s><s>Early life. Ziaur Rahman was born on 19 January 1936 to a Bengali Muslim family of Mandals in the village of Bagbari in Gabtali, Bogra District. His father, Mansur Rahman, was a chemist who specialised in paper and ink chemistry and worked for a government department at Writers' Building in Kolkata. His grandfather, Moulvi Kamaluddin Mandal, migrated from Mahishaban to Nashipur-Bagbari after marrying his grandmother Meherunnisa. Ziaur Rahman has Iranian ancestry through Meherunnisa, whose forefathers arrived in Ghoraghat during the Mughal period. His mother's name was Jahanara Khatun. Rahman was raised in his home village of Bagbari and studied in Bogra Zilla School. He had

Ziaur Rahman

two younger brothers, Ahmed Kamal (d. 2017) and Khalilur Rahman (d. 2014). In 1946, Mansur enrolled Rahman for a short stint in a boys school of Calcutta, Hare School, where he studied until the dissolution of the British Empire in India and partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. Mansur Rahman exercised his option to become a citizen of a Muslim majority Pakistan and in August 1947 moved to Karachi the first capital of Pakistan located in Sindh, West Pakistan. Zia, at the age of 11, had become a student in class six at the Academy School in Karachi in 1947. Rahman spent his adolescent years in Karachi and by age 16 completed his secondary education from that School in 1952. In 1953, Rahman was admitted into the D. J. Sindh Government Science College. In the same year, he joined the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul as a cadet. In August 1960, his marriage was arranged to Khaleda Khanam Putul, the 15-year-old daughter of Iskandar Majumder and Taiyaba Majumder from the Feni District (part of then Noakhali District). Khaleda Khanam Putul, later known as Khaleda Zia, went on

Ziaur Rahman

serve as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh three times. Rahman, a captain in the then Pakistan Army who was posted at that time as an Officer of the Defence Forces. His father, Mansur Rahman could not attend the marriage ceremony, as he was in Karachi. Zia's mother had died earlier.</s><s>Military career in the Pakistan Army. Graduating from the Pakistan Military Academy at 12th PMA long course on 18 September 1955 in the top 10% of his class, Rahman was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Pakistan Army. In the army, he received commando training, became a paratrooper and received training in a special intelligence course. Rahman went to East Pakistan on a short visit and was struck by the negative attitude of the Bengali middle class towards the military, which consumed a large chunk of the country's resources. The low representation of the Bengalis in the military was largely due to discrimination, but Rahman felt that the Bengali attitude towards the military perhaps prevented promising young Bengali from seeking military careers. As a Bengali army officer he advocated military careers for Bengali youth. After serving for two years in Karachi, he was transferred to the East Bengal Regiment in 1957. He attended military training schools of British Army. He also worked in the military

Ziaur Rahman

intelligence department from 1959 to 1964. Ayub Khan's military rule from 1958 to 1968 convinced Rahman of the need for a fundamental change in the Bengali attitude towards the military. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Rahman saw combat in the Khemkaran sector in Punjab as the commander of a company (military unit) of 100–150 soldiers. Rahman was awarded Hilal-i-Jur'at for gallantry by the Pakistan government medal, Pakistan's second highest military award, and the first Battalion of the East Bengal Regiment (EBR) under which he fought won 3 Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage) medals, and 8 Tamgha-i-Jurat (Medal of Courage) medals, for their role in the 1965 War with India. In 1966, Rahman was appointed military instructor at the Pakistan Military Academy, later going on to attend the Command and Staff College in Quetta, Pakistan, he completed a course in command and tactical warfare. Rahman helped raise two Bengali battalions called the 8th and 9th Bengals during his stint as instructor. Around the same time, his wife Khaleda Zia, now 24, gave birth to their first child Tarique Rahman on 20 November 1966. Rahman joined the

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2nd East Bengal regiment as its second-in-command at Joydebpur in Gazipur district, near Dhaka, in 1969, and travelled to West Germany to receive advanced military and command training from the British Army of the Rhine and later spent a few months with the British Army.</s><s>Pre-Independence. Rahman returned to Pakistan the following year. He was posted in Chittagong, East Pakistan in October 1970 to be second-in-command of the 8th East Bengal Regiment. East Pakistan had been devastated by the 1970 Bhola cyclone, and the population had been embittered by the slow response of the central government and the political conflict between Pakistan's two major parties, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Awami League, and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP). In the 1970 Pakistani general election, the Awami League had won a majority and its leader Sheikh Mujib laid claim to form a government, but Pakistan President Yahya Khan postponed the convening of the legislature under pressure from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's PPP party.</s><s>Bangladesh War of Liberation 1971. Following the failure of last-ditch talks, Yahya Khan declared martial

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law and ordered the army to crack down on Bengali political activities. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested before midnight on 26 March 1971, taken to Tejgaon International Airport and flown to West Pakistan. Zia, who already by then geared to revolt against the government of Pakistan revolted and later arrested and executed his commanding officer Lt. Col. Janjua. He was requested by the local Awami League supporters and leaders, to announce the Declaration of Independence that was earlier (in early hours of 26 March 1971) proclaimed by the undisputed Bengali leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, before his (Ziaur Rahman) arrest on 27 March 1971 from Kalurghat, Chittagong, as an Army officer's words would carry weight restoring people's trust in the 'Declaration of Independence', which read:. "I, Major Ziaur Rahman, Provincial Head of the government, do hereby declare that Independence of the People's Republic of Bangladesh." But his (Ziaur Rahman) proclamation as the ""Provincial Head"" of the government, was much criticized and rebuked by the political leaders present there and he realized his mistake. Later on the same day (27 March), a second broadcast was read as correction: "

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I, Major Ziaur Rahman, do hereby declare the Independence of Bangladesh in the name of our great leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman." Later in an interview with German Radio, Rahman talked about his 27 March announcement. Rahman organised an infantry unit gathering all Bengali soldiers from military and EPR units in Chittagong. He designated it Sector No. 1 with its HQ in Sabroom. A few weeks later he was transferred to Teldhala where he organised and created Sector 11. All sectors were restructured officially under Bangladesh Forces as the sector in the Chittagong and Hill Tracts area, under Colonel M. A. G. Osmani, the Supreme Commander of Bangladesh Forces, of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh which had its headquarters on Theatre Road, Calcutta in India. On 30 July 1971 Rahman was appointed the commander of the first conventional brigade of the Bangladesh Forces, which was named "Z Force", after the first initial of his name. His brigade consisted of 1st, 3rd and 8th East Bengali regiments, enabling Rahman to launch major attacks on Pakistani forces. With the Z Force, Rahman "acquired a reputation for icy bravery" according to "The New York Times", and was awarded

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the Bir Uttom, the second-highest military honour (and the highest for living officers) by the Government of Bangladesh.</s><s>Assassination of Mujib in 1975 and its aftermath. A deep conspiracy with the purpose of removing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the helm was well under way long before his assassination by outside forces and internal collaborators within Bangladesh. On 15 August 1975 President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family were assassinated in a gun fight with army personnel. One of Mujibur Rahman's cabinet ministers and a leading conspirator Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad gained the presidency and dismissed Major General K M Shafiullah, who had stayed neutral during the coup. Major General Ziaur Rahman (then deputy chief of army staff) was appointed as army chief of staff, after Shafiullah resigned. However, the coup of 15 August caused a period of instability and unrest in Bangladesh and amongst the rank and file of the armed forces. Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf and the 46th Brigade of Dhaka Cantonment under Colonel Shafaat Jamil revolted against Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed's administration on 3 November 1975, and Ziaur Rahman was forced to relinquish his post and put under house arrest. This was followed

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on November 7 by ("Sipoy-Janata Biplob") Soldiers and People's Coup, a mutiny staged by the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (JSD or National Socialist Party) under retired Lieutenant Colonel Abu Taher and a group of socialist military officers. Khaled Mosharraf was killed by his subordinate officers while he was sheltering with them from the mutineers. Shafaat Jamil escaped but was injured, while Rahman was freed by the 2nd Artillery regiment under Lt. Col. Rashid and re-appointed as army chief of staff with full support of the rank and file of the army. Following a meeting at army headquarters, an interim government was formed with Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem as chief martial law administrator and Ziaur Rahman, Air Vice Marshal M. G. Tawab and Rear Admiral M. H. Khan as his deputies. However, discipline in the army had totally collapsed and it was difficult to disarm the soldiers supported by JSD and Lt. Col. Taher, as they plotted another coup to remove Rahman. Rahman realised that the disorder had to be suppressed firmly if discipline was to be restored in the Bangladesh Army. Rahman cracked down on the JSD and Gonobah

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ini. Abu Taher was sentenced to death in July 1976 and other party figures received various terms of imprisonment. Taher was executed on 21 July 1976. Rahman became the chief martial law administrator following Justice Sayem's elevation to the presidency on 6 November 1975. He tried to integrate the armed forces, giving repatriates a status appropriate to their qualifications and seniority. While this angered some veterans of the independence war, who had rapidly reached high positions following independence in 1971, Rahman sent discontented officers on diplomatic missions abroad to defuse unrest.</s><s>Presidency. Rahman became the President of Bangladesh on 21 April 1977. Years of disorder from the previous political administration of the Awami League and BAKSAL had left most of Bangladesh's state institutions in disarray, with constant internal and external threats. After becoming president in 1977, Rahman lifted martial law and introduced massive reforms for the development of the country. In late September 1977, a failed coup against his administration occurred. A group of Japanese Red Army terrorists hijacked Japan Airlines Flight 472 from India armed with weapons and ammunition and forced it to land in Tejgaon International Airport. On 30 September, while the attention of the government was riveted on this crisis situation, due to spreading of panic and disinformation actions went under

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way in Bogra Cantonment where a revolt broke out. Although the revolt was quickly quelled on the night of 2 October, another revolt started in Dhaka cantonment, led by misinformed airmen of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). Armed units from these army and air force personnel unsuccessfully attacked Zia's residence, captured Dhaka Radio for a short time and killed eleven air force officers and 30 airmen at Tejgaon International Airport, where they were gathered for negotiations with the hijackers. Wing Commander M. Hamidullah Khan TJ, SH, BP (BDF Commander Bangladesh Forces Sector 11), then BAF Ground Defence Commander, quickly put down the rebellion within the Air Force, while the government was severely shaken. Chief of Air Staff AVM AG Mahmud reappointed Wing Commander Hamidullah Khan as Provost Marshal of BAF. President Zia immediately appointed Wing Commander Hamidullah Khan as ZMLA (Dhaka) and Director of Martial Law Communications and Control at Tejgaon (present day PM's Office). Government intelligence had failed and President Rahman promptly dismissed the DG-NSI and the DFI chief, AVM Aminul Islam Khan, of 9th GD(P) formerly coursemate of AVM A

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. K. Khandkar of Pakistan Air Force. Under Zia's Presidential directive Hamidullah initiated the transfer of DFI at Old Bailey Road from the ministry of defence to Dhaka Cantonment under direct control of the president and reorganized as DGFI. In the aftermath at least 200 soldiers involved in the coup attempt were executed following a military trial.. The size of Bangladesh police forces was doubled and the number of soldiers of the army increased from 50,000 to 90,000. In 1978 he appointed Hussain Muhammad Ershad as the new Chief of Army Staff, promoting him to the rank of lieutenant general. He was viewed as a professional soldier with no political aspirations because of his imprisonment in former West Pakistan during the Bangladesh War of Independence. Quietly Ershad rose to become Zia's close political and military counsellor.</s><s>Presidency.:Elections. In 1978, General Rahman ran for and an overwhelmingly won a five-year term as president. The next year elections were held for the National Assembly. Opponents questioned the integrity of the elections. Zia allowed Sheikh Hasina, the exiled daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to return to Bangladesh in 1981.</s><s>Presidency.:Domestic and foreign policies. On taking power

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, Rahman was "hailed as the strict leader that the struggling nation needed". Bangladesh suffered from illiteracy, severe poverty, chronic unemployment, shortages and economic stagnation. Rahman reversed course from his predecessor Mujib's secular, democratic socialist, pro-Indian policies. Rahman announced a "19-point programme" of economic emancipation which emphasised self-reliance, rural development, decentralisation, free markets and population control. Rahman spent much of his time travelling throughout the country, preaching the "politics of hope" and urging Bangladeshis to work harder and to produce more. He held cabinet meetings all across Bangladesh. Rahman focused on boosting agricultural and industrial production, especially in food and grains, and to integrate rural development through a variety of programmes, of which population planning was the most important. He introduced and opened the Bangladesh Jute and Rice research institutes. He launched an ambitious rural development programme in 1977, which included a highly visible and popular food-for-work programme. He promoted private sector development, exports growth and the reversing of the collectivisation of farms. His government reduced quotas and restrictions on agriculture and industrial activities. Rahman launched major projects to construct irrigation canals, power stations, dams, roads and other public works. Directing his campaign to mobilise rural

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support and development, Rahman established "Gram Sarkar" ("Village Councils") system of self-government and the "Village Defence Party" system of security and crime prevention. Programmes to promote primary and adult education on a mass scale were initiated and focused mainly across rural Bangladesh. During this period, Bangladesh's economy achieved fast economic and industrial growth. Rahman began reorienting Bangladesh's foreign policy, addressing the concerns of the mostly staunch rightists coupled with some renegade leftist who believed that Bangladesh was reliant on Indian economic and military aid. Rahman moved away from India and the Soviet bloc, his predecessors' had worked with, developing closer relations with the United States and Western Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Rahman also moved to harmonise ties with Saudi Arabia and the People's Republic of China, Pakistan's ally who had opposed Bangladesh's creation and had not recognised it until 1975. Rahman moved to normalise relations with Pakistan. While distancing Bangladesh from India, Rahman sought to improve ties with other Islamic nations. Zia's move towards Islamic state policies improved the nation's standing in the Middle East. According to historian Tazeen M. Murshid, one aim of these policies was to open the Gulf states to manpower exports. In this Zia was

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successful, and remittances became an important part of the Bangladeshi economy. Rahman also proposed an organisation of the nations of South Asia to bolster economic and political co-operation at a regional level. This proposal materialised in 1985 under the Presidency of Hussain Muhammad Ershad with the first meeting of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation in Dhaka. Zia's vision has earned him a posthumous award from the organisation.</s><s>Presidency.:Islam and nationalism. Rahman believed that a massive section of the population was suffering from an identity crisis, both religious and as a people, with a very limited sense of sovereignty. To remedy this he began a re-Islamisation of Bangladesh. He issued a proclamation order amending the constitution, under whose basis laws would be set in an effort to increase the self-knowledge of religion and nation. In the preamble, he inserted the salutation ""Bismillahir-Rahmaanir-Rahim"" ("In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful"). In Article 8(1) and 8(1A) the statement "absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah"' was added, replacing the socialist commitment to secularism. Socialism was redefined as "economic and social

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justice" under his leadership. In Article 25(2), Rahman introduced the principle that '"the state shall endeavour to consolidate, preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic solidarity." Some intellectuals accuse Rahman of changing the nature of the republic from the secularism laid out by Sheikh Mujib and his supporters. However, critics of this accusation say the rationale is absurd and an oversimplification since secular leaders like Gamal Abdel Nasser and Ahmed Ben Bella adopted this policy, and that religious slogans and symbolism are also used by the Awami League. Later Rahman introduced Islamic religious education as a compulsory subject for Muslim schoolchildren. At the birth of Bangladesh, many Islamists had supported the Pakistani Army's fight against independence and been barred from politics with the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order of 1972. Rahman undid this as well as the ban on communal parties and associations. In public speeches and policies that he formulated, Rahman began expounding "Bangladesh Nationalism," its "Sovereignty," as opposed to Mujib's assertion of a Bengali identity based under language-based nationalism. Rahman emphasised the national role of Islam as guide to life's principle. Claiming to promote an inclusive national identity, Rahman reached out to non

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-Bengali minorities such as the Santals, Garos, Manipuris and Chakmas, as well as the Urdu-speaking peoples of Bihari origin. He even amended the constitution to change the nationality of the citizens from Bengali, an ethnic identity, to Bangladeshi, a national identity, under sovereign allegiance not political belief or party affiliation. However, Bangladeshi nationalism excluded the country's non-Muslim minorities, particularly the Hindu community. After the formation of Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1978, Rahman took initiative for formation of political institutes and sponsored workshops for the youth to get active political lessons on Bangladesh nationalism. In such a workshop in September 1980, Rahman spoke to the learners.</s><s>Presidency.:Indemnity Act. Rahman enacted several controversial measures, some to discipline the army, some to solidify his power and some to win the support of right wing political groups such as the Jamaat-e-Islami. Zia also facilitated the comeback of the Muslim League and other Islamic parties, appointed the highly controversial anti-independence figure Shah Azizur Rahman (who was earlier released from jail by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1973) prime minister. Rahman gave foreign appointments to several men accused of assassinating Sheikh Mujibur

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Rahman. Major Dalim, Major Rashid and Major Faruk were given jobs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in subsequent years they were appointed ambassadors of Bangladesh to African and Middle Eastern nations. The Indemnity Ordinance (which gave immunity from legal action to the persons involved in the assassination of president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, coups and other political events between 1975 and 1979) was proclaimed by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad in 1975 president, ratified in the Parliament as the Indemnity Act, and incorporated as the 5th amendment to the constitution during the tenure of President Hussain Muhammad Ershad.</s><s>Assassination. During his term of power, Rahman was criticised for ruthless treatment of his army opposition. Although he enjoyed overall popularity and public confidence, Zia's rehabilitation of some of the most controversial men in Bangladesh aroused fierce opposition from the supporters of the Awami League and veterans of its Mukti Bahini. Amidst speculation and fears of unrest, Rahman went on tour to Chittagong on 29 May 1981 to help resolve an intra-party political dispute in the regional BNP. Rahman and his entourage stayed overnight at the Chittagong Circuit House. In the early hours of the morning of 30 May, he was assassinated by

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a group of army officers. Also killed were six of his bodyguards and two aides. Nearly two million people are estimated to have attended the funeral held at the Parliament Square.</s><s>Criticism and legacy. Many Bangladeshi politicians consider Rahman a war hero. However, his role after 15 August 1975 assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family remains controversial. The Indemnity Act, an ordinance ordered by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad in 1975 pardoning the subsequently convicted killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was legalised by Rahman during his tenure as president. Some killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family were sent abroad during his time as president. The Dhaka High Court declared the seizures of power by military coups between 1975 and 1979, including Zia's military regime, as "unlawful and unconstitutional." Zia's martial law decrees, his ascendancy to the presidency in 1977 and the election held in 1978 were declared "unknown to the constitution." The court ruling over-ruled the Indemnity Act by which these very events were accorded a legal status and enshrined in the constitution. Rahman is credited for ending the disorder of the final years of Sheikh Mujib's rule and establishing democracy by abolishing BAK

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SHAL (One party rule established by Mujib). On the other hand, Rahman is assailed by his critics for suppressing opposition. It is claimed that around 3,000 soldiers, military officials and civilians either disappeared or were killed during his reign. On one occasion, about 1,143 people were hanged in various Bangladeshi prisons, on charges of participating in a failed coup attempt on 2 October 1977. However, Zia's economic reforms are credited with rebuilding the economy and his move towards Islamisation brought him the support of ordinary Bangladeshi people. His nationalist vision also appealed to many who resented the other political parties alleged inclination towards India and the Soviet Union. Moving away from Mujib's secularism, Rahman asserted an Islamist political identity for Bangladesh and membership in the wider community of Muslim nations, which was applauded by the public. However, many historians have said these measures laid the foundations of future communal and ethnic conflicts by isolating and embittering many ethnic and religious minorities in Bangladesh. Critics of this view say this is an oversimplification, and that Rahman alone cannot be held responsible for these tensions. It is generally acknowledged that he lived a simple life, which included opting to have his food supplied from the army canteen. National anthem debate Prime

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Minister Shah Azizur Rahman said in a secret letter to the Cabinet Department, “A song written by Rabindranath Tagore is the Indian national anthem. He is not a citizen of Bangladesh. The Muslim Ummah is worried that a song written by a poet from the Hindu community is the national anthem. National Anthem needs to be changed as this song is against the spirit of our culture. " In the Prime Minister's letter, instead of '"Amar Sonar Bangla"', "'Prothom Bangladesh, Amar shesh Bangladesh"' was proposed as the national anthem. After receiving this letter from the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Department issued instructions to broadcast the first Bangladesh song on radio, television and all government programs. Zia himself was in favor of changing the national flag and national anthem, whe BNP leader Dr. Yusuf asked Zia in a session to change the national flag, Zia replied, "It will be, it will be, everything will be. Let "the national anthem written by Hindu" be changed first. Then I will think about the national flag. " Meanwhile, the "Prothom Bangladesh" song started singing along with the National Anthem at the President's function. But after Zia's death in 1981,

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the initiative stalled. Attempts to change the national flag On December 16, 1978, on Bangladesh's Victory Day, an orange circle flag was ordered to be hoisted on government buildings instead of a red circle flag on a green ground. But in the face of protests, Zia had to withdraw from this plan.</s><s>Criticism and legacy.:Family. With Khaleda Zia, Rahman had two sons, Tareq Rahman and Arafat Rahman (d. 2015). Khaleda became the head of the BNP and organised a coalition of political parties opposed to Ershad's regime. In elections held in 1991, she led the BNP to victory and became the first female prime minister of Bangladesh. She lost the 1996 elections to the Awami League's Sheikh Hasina, but returned to power in 2001. Tareq served as the BNP senior joint secretary.</s><s>Criticism and legacy.:Honours. Turkey has named a road in Ankara as "Ziaur Rahman Caddesi" after his death to honour him. In 2004, Ziaur Rahman was ranked number 20 in BBC's poll of the Greatest Bengali of all time. Zia was also honoured by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation for his statesmanship and vision

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. Other honours include: - : Hilal-i-Jur'at - : Order of the Nile - : Order of the Yugoslav Star - : Hero of the Republic</s><s>See also. - BM Abbas</s><s>Further reading. - - -</s>