National award-winning filmmaker Khalid Mahmood Mithu dies as tree falls on him

National Film Award-winning filmmaker Khalid Mahmood Mithu has died in a freak accident at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi.

Dhanmondi Police Station OC Nure Azam said a tree fell on the rickshaw Mithu he was riding at Road 4 at Dhanmondi on Monday noon.
 
He was rushed to Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
 
Mithu won the National Film Award for his first movie ‘Gohine Shobdo (Dark Resonance)’, which released on Mar 26, 2010.
 
He did his post-graduation at the Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts in 1986. His wife Kanak Chanpa Chakma is a famed artist.
 
He had written a book on novelist-filmmaker Humayun Ahmed. 
 
Bidya Sinha Saha Mim shared the National Award-2014 in the best actress category for her role in Mithu’s film Jonakir Alo (Glow of the Firefly) with Arifa Parvin Moushumi.
 

His wife Kanak Chanpa was adjudged the best costume designer for Jonakir Alo.

Mithu left behind his wife, son Arjo Srestha and daughter Shiropa Purna. 

Many media and cultural personalities and artistes rushed to his house on hearing of the death. They include Faridur Reza Sagar, M Hamid, Morshedul Islam, and Adam Dawla.

Filmmaker Dawla told bdnews24.com by telephone that funerals for Mithu would be held after Arjo arrives from abroad on Tuesday.

He termed his demise an irreparable loss to art, films and the film industry.

“As one of his oldest friends, I knew him from the age of 15. He was a good father and friend; a great painter and efficient organiser for art exhibitions,” Dawla said.

He said Mithu was involved in organising many art exhibitions including the International Miniature Art Biennale in October 2015.