Eminent Ekushey Padak-winning cultural personality, artiste, and puppeteer Mustafa Monwar has passed away.
He breathed his last at 9:30am today (Monday) while undergoing treatment at Square Hospital in the capital. The legendary puppeteer was 91 years old at the time of his demise.
Mustafa Monwar was suffering from a severe bacterial lung infection and acute pneumonia.
He had been under intensive care (ICU) at Square Hospital since June 14.
Earlier in September 2024, he was on life support due to prostate cancer but recovered after receiving treatment in India.
Born on September 1, 1935, at village Sreepur in Jashore district, Mustafa Monwar was the son of the famous poet Golam Mostafa.
After passing Matriculation from Narayanganj Government School, he got admitted to Scottish Chuch College of Kolkata. As he had shown great interest about fine arts, he was admitted to Calcutta Government Fine Arts College later on. He secured first class first position from there in 1959.
Mustafa Monwar married Mery Monwar in 1965. They have one son -- Sadat Monwar and daughter -- Nandini Monwar.
He was widely known as the 'Puppet Man' of Bangladesh for pioneering and developing the art of puppetry.
His popular puppet show 'Moner Kotha' aired on BTV for 12 years.
He started his career as a lecturer at the Dhaka Art College. Later, he served as the Deputy Director General of Bangladesh Television (BTV), Director General of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and Managing Director of the FDC.
Mustafa Monwar was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2004 for his outstanding contribution to art and culture.His passing marks the end of an era in the cultural landscape of Bangladesh.
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