Television director and playwright Maruf Hossain Sajib has died at the age of 40. He passed away after suffering a heart attack at around 5am on Tuesday.
Sajib’s death has left actors, directors and other members of the entertainment industry mourning. Actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba paid tribute to him on Facebook and prayed for his eternal peace.
Actress Mehazabien Chowdhury also expressed grief over his death. She said she had not worked with Sajib extensively but had met him many times and often discussed various ideas and plans when she was regularly working in television dramas.
Mehazabien recalled that Sajib had many plans and ideas and wanted to accomplish much more. She prayed for strength and patience for his family and loved ones and urged everyone to pray for him.
Actor Tawsif Mahbub said he was shocked to wake up to the news. He recalled speaking with Sajib only recently and said they had discussed future work and plans to meet again.
“Life is so uncertain and so short. Death has reminded us of that once again in the harshest way,” Tawsif wrote.
Sajib will be buried at the Uttara Sector 12 graveyard after the Zohr prayer on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Sajib directed several television dramas, including Bilop, Babui Pakhir Basa and Rongin Kagoj. Alongside directing, he established himself as a screenwriter and served as the training and research secretary of the Television Playwrights Association.
In 2021, Sajib received the Meril-Prothom Alo Award as the screenwriter of Bilop. He also won Best Playwright and Best Television Director awards at the Channel i Digital Media Award 2021 for the same drama.
He also published a short story collection titled Oli Goli Te.
