Ekushey Padak and Swadhinata Award-winning theatre personality Ataur Rahman was buried at Banani Cemetery in Dhaka on Tuesday, following funeral rites and public tributes at the Central Shaheed Minar.
His daughter Sharmistha Rahman confirmed that, as per the family’s decision, he was laid to rest in his mother’s grave at Banani Cemetery.
Earlier in the day, his funeral prayer was held in the open field in front of his residence in Moghbazar. His body was later taken to the Central Shaheed Minar, where it was kept from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm for people from all walks of life to pay their respects.
Ataur Rahman died on Monday night after being on life support for 10 consecutive days. He was due to turn 85 next June. He is survived by his wife Shahida Rahman, daughter Sharmistha Rahman, son Shwashat Rahman and many admirers.
According to family sources, his condition worsened after he fell at home on May 1. He was first taken to a hospital in Gulshan and later shifted to a hospital in Dhanmondi due to lack of ICU facilities. He remained on life support, briefly showed signs of improvement, but deteriorated again before dying after life support was withdrawn at around 1:45 am on Monday.
Born in Noakhali on June 18, 1941, Ataur Rahman was regarded as a pioneer of Bangladesh’s theatre and cultural movement. A postgraduate in soil science from Dhaka University, he was a founding figure in civic theatre and an important organiser of the independence-era theatre movement.
He began his directing career in 1972 with Michael Madhusudan Dutta’s play ‘Buro Shaliker Ghare Ron’ and went on to stage notable productions including ‘Payer Awaz Pawa Jay’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Godor Pratikkhay’ and ‘Rudro Robi’ and ‘Jallianwala Bagh’.
Beyond the stage, Ataur Rahman was active in teaching, writing on theatre and holding key roles in cultural and international theatre organisations.
Ataur Rahman was awarded both the Ekushey Padak and Swadhinata Puraskar in recognition of his contribution to theatre and culture.
