Veteran Artist Mustafa Monwar Passes Away

Bangladesh has lost one of its most distinguished cultural figures with the passing of veteran artist Mustafa Monwar, whose contributions to visual arts, children’s education and puppetry left a lasting mark on the nation’s cultural landscape. He died on Monday morning while undergoing treatment at Square Hospital in the capital. He was 90.

Hospital authorities confirmed his death, stating that Monwar had been suffering from pneumonia and prostate cancer for an extended period. He was admitted to the hospital on the 14th of this month after his health deteriorated. Despite receiving medical care, he passed away at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

According to his personal assistant, Rubel Mia, Monwar’s body will be taken from the hospital to Takwa Mosque in Dhanmondi before being moved to his residence in Dhanmondi for relatives, colleagues, admirers and members of the public to pay their final respects. Details regarding his funeral prayers and burial will be announced later by his family.

Mustafa Monwar was widely recognised as the “Puppetman of Bangladesh”, a title earned through decades of pioneering work in puppetry, visual storytelling and children’s cultural development. His influence extended well beyond the canvas, encompassing education, broadcasting, television production and cultural administration.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the arts, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak, one of Bangladesh’s highest civilian honours, in 2004. Over the course of his long career, he also received numerous other national and professional accolades for his service to the country’s cultural heritage.

His passion for art and music emerged in childhood. While studying in the ninth grade, he became actively involved in the Bengali Language Movement. During that period, he was imprisoned for producing artwork connected with the movement, reflecting an early commitment to cultural identity and social causes that would remain evident throughout his life.

Monwar was also one of the architects behind the iconic red sun motif at the Central Shaheed Minar, one of Bangladesh’s most recognisable national monuments commemorating the Language Movement. His creative legacy includes the beloved children’s character Parul, while he also played an important role in the development of Meena, a well-known educational character that has reached generations of children across South Asia.

His contributions to children’s television were equally significant. He created Notun Kuri, widely regarded as one of Bangladesh’s most respected and popular television programmes for nurturing young talent. Another of his productions, Moner Kotha, also received widespread appreciation for its thoughtful and engaging content.

Monwar began his professional career as a lecturer at the then East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts. He later held senior positions at several of Bangladesh’s leading cultural institutions, including the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangladesh Television, the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation and the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Through these roles, he helped shape cultural policy, promote artistic excellence and encourage creative opportunities for younger generations.

The Bangladesh Liberation War marked another defining chapter in his life. Witnessing traumatised children living in refugee camps deeply affected him. Determined to bring moments of joy to those facing unimaginable hardship, he organised the first puppet show of his life within one of the refugee camps. That experience laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to puppetry. After Bangladesh achieved independence, he transformed the art form into an important medium for education, entertainment and social awareness, introducing a new era for puppet theatre in the country.

Mustafa Monwar’s death marks the end of an extraordinary career that spanned several decades. His work influenced generations of artists, educators and children, while his creative vision helped shape modern Bangladeshi art and cultural programming. His paintings, television productions, puppetry and educational initiatives will continue to inspire future generations, ensuring that his legacy remains an enduring part of Bangladesh’s cultural history.