Art maestro Mustafa Monwar dies

Renowned artist, cultural personality and educator Mustafa Monwar, widely regarded as the “Puppet Man of Bangladesh”, died at a hospital in the capital on Monday. He was 90.
He breathed his last at around 8:30am while undergoing treatment for age-related complications, family members said.

In a condolence message, Bangla Academy Director General Prof Mohammad Azam described Monwar as one of Bangladesh’s legendary cultural figures and an honorary fellow of the academy.

He said Monwar’s contribution to the creative development of the country’s media, particularly Bangladesh Television (BTV), would remain unforgettable.

Prof Azam prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family.

According to family members, Monwar had been suffering from various age-related illnesses for several years. Mustafa Monwar earned nationwide recognition for pioneering puppet theatre in Bangladesh and was affectionately known as the “Puppet Man of Bangladesh”.

During the 1971 Liberation War, he organised puppet shows at refugee camps in India’s West Bengal to raise awareness of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.

His celebrated television puppet programme Moner Kotha aired on Bangladesh Television for 12 years.

The programme featured the story of Parul and her seven brothers, who were transformed into flowers under a curse, drawing inspiration from the popular folk tale Saat Bhai Champa.

The series became an enduring part of the childhood of several generations of Bangladeshis.

Born on 1 September 1935 in Jashore, Mustafa Monwar was the youngest of six siblings. His father was the noted poet Golam Mostafa.

He studied at Narayanganj Government School before briefly enrolling in the science faculty at Scottish Church College in Kolkata.

He later switched to the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata, graduating in 1959 with first-class first in Fine Arts.

Monwar began his professional career as a lecturer at the then East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts before serving in a number of key cultural and media institutions.

During his distinguished career, he held the posts of Deputy Director General and later Director General of Bangladesh Television, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and Director General of the National Institute of Mass Communication. He also served as Managing Director of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) and was the founding president of Directors Guild Bangladesh.

His contributions to art and culture earned him several prestigious honours, including the All India Fine Arts Competition Award, the Zainul Abedin Gold Medal and the Ekushey Padak, Bangladesh’s second-highest civilian award, in 2004.

Through his work as an artist, educator, broadcaster and puppeteer, Mustafa Monwar played a pioneering role in shaping Bangladesh’s cultural landscape.

His creative legacy enriched the lives of generations of children and continues to hold a distinctive place in the country’s artistic heritage.