Eminent Bangladeshi cultural figure and painter Mustafa Monowar passed away on Monday morning while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 90 years old. According to family sources, he had been admitted to Square Hospital after his health deteriorated. His wife, Mary Monowar, confirmed the news.

Monowar had long suffered from various health complications. In June, his condition worsened, leading doctors to move him to the ICU. He had previously been placed on life support in September 2024 but later recovered partially. Recently, he fell ill again after contracting a bacterial pneumonia infection.

Born on September 1, 1935, in Nakol village of Magura district, Monowar began his career as an art college teacher and became a pioneer of puppet shows in Bangladesh. His television programs for children inspired generations. The son of poet Golam Mostafa, he received the Ekushey Padak in 2004 for his contributions to art and culture. His death has cast a shadow of mourning across the country’s cultural community, with admirers expressing condolences online.