Veteran artist Mustafa Monwar passes away, funeral and burial on Tuesday

Renowned artist Mustafa Monwar has passed away. He died today, Monday morning while undergoing treatment at Square Hospital in the capital. He was 90.

Sources at Square Hospital confirmed the artist’s death to Prothom Alo. He had been receiving treatment there.

Known as the ‘Puppetman of Bangladesh’, Mustafa Monwar had long been suffering from pneumonia and prostate cancer.

According to hospital sources, Mustafa Monwar was admitted to Square Hospital on the 14th of this month after falling ill. He had been battling various old age-related health complications. He died at the hospital around 8:30 am on Monday.

In 2004, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the country’s highest state honour.

According to family sources, Mustafa Monwar’s body will be kept overnight in the mortuary at Square Hospital. His first funeral prayer will be held at Bangladesh Television (BTV) around 9:00 am on Tuesday.

At 11:00 am, his body will be placed at the Central Shaheed Minar for the general public to pay their respects.

His second funeral prayer will be held after Zuhr at the Central Mosque of the University of Dhaka. Afterwards, his body will be taken to the university's Faculty of Fine Arts, where people will have another opportunity to pay tribute. He will be laid to rest at Banani Graveyard.

The artist’s personal assistant, Rubel Mia, told Prothom Alo on Monday morning that Mustafa Monwar’s body was first taken from the hospital to Taqwa Mosque. At around 10:30 am, the freezer van carrying his body arrived at his residence on Road No. 1 in Dhanmondi.

Family members, relatives, admirers and well-wishers gathered there to pay their respects. Among them were eminent artist Rafiqun Nabi, Chitrak Gallery Executive Director Moniruzzaman, Bangladesh Television Director General Md Mahbubul Alam, actor Tariq Anam Khan, noted puppeteer Zillur Rahman, and Tamanna Tithi, Sohel Ahmed, Khalid Ahmed, Md Noman and Anukul Das, among others.

Condolences were also expressed by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and the Sammilito Samajik Andolon.

Mustafa Monwar was born on 1 September 1935. His father was the poet Golam Mostofa.

From an early age, he developed a passion for painting and music. While in the ninth grade, he joined the Language Movement and was imprisoned for drawing. He was one of the architects of the red sun motif at the Central Shaheed Minar.

He created the popular character ‘Parul’ and was also associated with ‘Meena’ cartoon. He produced ‘Notun Kuri’, widely regarded as Bangladesh’s most prestigious and popular television programme for nurturing children’s talents.

His programme ‘Moner Kotha’ also received widespread acclaim.

He began his professional career as a lecturer at the East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts.

He later held senior positions at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangladesh Television, the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and several other important institutions.

During the Liberation War, the traumatised faces of children in refugee camps deeply moved him. To bring smiles to their faces, he staged the first puppet show of his life in one of those camps.

After Bangladesh’s independence, Mustafa Monwar introduced a new form of puppetry to the country’s art scene, leaving a lasting legacy.