Renowned Bangladeshi painter, sculptor, and cultural icon Mustafa Monwar, affectionately known as the `Puppet Man` of Bangladesh, has been placed on life support in a private hospital in the capital.
According to his family, the artist has been struggling with various health issues for some time, including pneumonia and prostate cancer.
His condition worsened on Saturday, leading to his admission to life support at Square Hospital.
It was revealed to the media that Mustafa Monwar had traveled to Delhi, India for treatment a few days earlier. After receiving care for prostate cancer, he returned home in good health.
As one of Bangladesh`s most pioneering and respected artists, Mustafa Monwar is celebrated for his revolutionary contributions to puppetry and television drama in the country.
His popular television puppet show, ‘Moner Kotha,’ aired on BTV for 12 years, becoming a beloved classic, especially among children of the 1990s.
An Ekushey Padak recipient, Mustafa Monwar began his career as a lecturer at the East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts. He later became the Director General of the East Pakistan branch of PTV, now Bangladesh Television.
Throughout his distinguished career, he also served as the Director General of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the National Media Institute, Managing Director of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), and Chairman of Bangladesh Shishu Academy.
The legendary artist celebrated his 89th birthday on September 1. He was born in 1935 in Jessore, to the eminent poet Golam Mostofa.