Published: 01:36 AM, 30 June 2026
Puppet Man Mustafa Monwar passes away
Mustafa Monwar, the artist, theatre director, and art researcher known for his pioneering work in puppetry, has died.
He passed away around 8:30am on Monday while undergoing treatment at Dhaka's Square Hospital. The renowned artist was 91.
Monwar was suffering from various diseases related to old age and had to be treated in hospital several times in the past months.
He was last admitted to Square Hospital on Jun 14 after contracting pneumonia. When his physical condition deteriorated, he was taken to the intensive care unit (ICU).
His ventilator support was removed a few days ago after there was some improvement in his condition. He was put on ventilator support again when his condition deteriorated, but he could not be restored afterwards.
Monwar was born on Sept 1, 1935, in Jashore's Sreepur. His father, poet Golam Mostafa, hailed from Monoharpur village in Jhenaidah's Shailkupa.
Monwar's mother Jamila Khatun died when he was five years old. He was the youngest of six siblings. After matriculating from Narayanganj Government School, Monwar initially enrolled in the science branch at Scottish Church College in Kolkata. But he did not stick to his studies and eventually enrolled in the Kolkata College of Arts and Crafts. In 1959, he graduated top of his class in Fine Arts from the institution.
He married Mary Monwar in 1965. They had a son, Sadat Monwar, and a daughter, Nandini Monwar.
>>RR Badhan, AA
