Mustafa Monwar in ICU, concerns about his physical condition

The country’s renowned artist, painter, cultural figure and pioneer of the puppet movement Mustafa Monwar is seriously ill and undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital. 

He has been in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) for the past four days as his physical condition has deteriorated.

According to family sources, he was taken to the capital’s Square Hospital on June 14 when his physical condition deteriorated. After initial tests in the emergency department, doctors decided to transfer him to the ICU considering his physical condition. Mustafa Monwar’s wife Mary Monwar told the media that her husband’s blood pressure and oxygen levels were dropping alarmingly. On the advice of doctors, he was admitted to the ICU and is undergoing treatment there under close observation.

It is known that this talented artist has been suffering from various age-related physical complications for a long time. Earlier, in September 2024, he fell seriously ill and had to be on life support. Although he recovered somewhat later, his physical condition worsened again after recently contracting pneumonia.

Monwar is a bright name in the art and culture arena of Bangladesh. Although he started his career as a teacher, he later became known as one of the pioneers of the country’s puppet movement. His various programmes and creative initiatives created for children and adolescents on television have coloured the childhood of several generations.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to art and culture, he received the Ekushey Padak, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, in 2004. 

In addition, he was awarded the ‘Sultan Gold Medal’ from the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 2018.