Eminent cultural personality and artist Mustafa Monwar died Monday morning while undergoing treatment at Square Hospital in the capital. He was 90.
His death was confirmed by students and well‑wishers.
The renowned artist was admitted to the hospital on 14 June after being diagnosed with pneumonia. As his condition worsened, he was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Mustafa, one of the leading figures who popularised puppetry in Bangladesh and introduced new trends in television programming, will remain specially remembered in people’s hearts.
His widely acclaimed puppet character Parul, created for Bangladesh Television, once became a symbol of social awareness and a healthy society.
Born on 1 September 1935, in Nakol village of Magura district, Monwar’s ancestral home was in Manoharpur village of Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah. He was the youngest of six children of noted poet Golam Mustafa and Jamila Khatun.
He completed his education at Kolkata’s Government College of Art and Craft, graduating first in his class. It was in India that he developed his interest in puppetry, which later added a new dimension to Bangladesh’s cultural sphere.
Although he began his career as a teacher, Monwar went on to serve as Deputy Director General of Bangladesh Television, Director General of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Director General of the National Institute of Mass Communication, and Managing Director of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC).
Over a long professional life, he made outstanding contributions to painting, children’s programming, television, and the wider cultural arena.
In recognition of his special contributions to art and culture, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2004, along with numerous honors and awards at home and abroad.
