Last tribute to Mustafa Monwar at Shaheed Minar

To pay last tribute to Mustafa Monwar, one of the pioneers of Bangladesh’s painting, television and puppet movement, his body was brought to the Central Shaheed Minar at 11 am on Tuesday. 

An emotional atmosphere was created there with the presence of state representatives, cultural organisations, artists, writers, theatre people and people from all walks of life.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud and former adviser to the interim government Sharmin Murshid were the first to pay their respects to Mustafa Monwar at the Shaheed Minar. 

Later, Duronto Television, Biswa Sahitya Kendra, Narayanganj Fine Arts Institute, Karmojibi Nari (Working Women), Bangla Academy, Battala, Democratic Left Alliance, Golam Mostafa Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Pathshala, Prachyanat, Charan Sangskritik Kendra, Udichi, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Bangaranga Natya Dal, Theater, Abdullah Al Mamun Theater School, Natyam Repertory, Nagorik Natya Sampradaya, Swanan, Bangladesh Dance Artistes’ Association, Kanthoshilan, Srote Abritti Sangsad, Biplobi Workers Party and Sanskriti Bikash Kendra, and various cultural, social and professional organisations paid their respects one by one.

In addition, prominent cultural figures of the country including theatre personalities Mamunur Rashid, Nasir Uddin Yusuf, painter Monirul Islam, painter Anwar Hossain, painter Keramat Maula, Bhaswar Bandyopadhyay, Shankar Shawneyaz, Kazi Tamanna, Golam Rabbani, artists Amanul Haque, Khandaker Shah Alam and Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artist Ashraful Alam paid their respects personally.

At the memorial service organised after the tribute, theatre personalities Mamunur Rashid, painter Anwar Hossain and Keramat Maula, along with many others, highlighted Mustafa Monowar’s long career, artistic vision and his contribution to developing a new generation of artists and cultural activists. 

The speakers said that Mustafa Monwar was a multi-dimensional creative personality, whose work and philosophy will remain a source of inspiration in the history of art and culture of Bangladesh for a long time.

Guard of honour to Monwar at Shaheed Minar

After people from all walks of life paid their respects, Mustafa fMonwar was given a guard of honour at 12:45 pm. Later, his body was taken to the Central Mosque of Dhaka University for his funeral. After paying his last respects at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Channel I premises, he will be buried at Banani Graveyard.