Dhaka, Nov 14 (bdnews24.com) — Language Movement veteran and artist Imdad Hossain has been laid to rest at his family graveyard at Keraniganj upazila in Dhaka.
After two namaz-e-janazas (funeral prayers), he was buried with dull state honours at Rohitpur village on Monday afternoon.
His first janaza was held on Dhaka University Central Mosque premises after the 'johor' prayer and the second one at Rohitpur.
Imdad died due to old age complications at the age of 85 at Health and Hope Hospital on Green Road in the city on Sunday.
He leaves behind his wife, four sons and two daughters, a host of relatives and admires to mourn his death.
Earlier in the day, his body was kept at the Central Shaheed Minar for two hours from 10am for the people to pay their last respects to the language hero.
People across the broad social spectrum of the society paid their homage to him.
Political parties including the Awami League, Communist Party of Bangladesh and Workers' Party paid floral tribute to him.
"It is a great loss for the nation," ruling Awami League's presidium member Obaidul Qader told journalists after paying his homage.
Being a man of diverse talent, he contributed to the design of the Central Shaheed Minar and Bangladesh Television logo. The red 'sun' placed behind the main structure to honour the 1952 Language Movement martyrs was his idea.
It was Imdad who named the procession taken out on the Bengali New Year's Day, or Pahela Baishakh, as 'Mangal Shobhajatra'.
"Imdad initiated the celebrations of Nabanna and Pahela Baishakh in the city," said artist Hashem Khan.
Cultural organiser Kamal Lohani said: "He always held an uncompromising stance for the people."
Paying his homage, another Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin said: "He had played a brave role against cultural imperialism both in rural and urban areas throughout his life."
Later, celebrated artist's mortal remains were taken to the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University (DU) where education minister Nurul Islam Nahid and DU vice-chancellor A A M S Arefin Siddique paid their homage to the late artist.
Imdad received Ekusay Padak in 2010 for his great role in fine arts and other prestigious awards for his outstanding contribution to the Language Movement.
He started his career as the chief designer at Dhaka Station of East Pakistan Television in 1966 and went on retirement in 1976.
Imdad was born on Nov 21, 1926 in Chandpur district. He passed his childhood at Keraniganj in Dhaka. The artist was a first-batch student of the Dhaka Art College (now Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka).
During the Language Movement, Imdad took part in processions actively. He also took part in different cultural and political movements.
He was an active member of Chhayanat, the famous Rabindra Sangeet and fine arts institute, after its establishment in 1961.
Imdad, along with great artist Quamrul Hassan, jointly founded 'Charu Shilpi Sangstha' and played an important role in the mass uprising of 1969.
He encouraged freedom fighters at the training camps and battlefields with his artworks during the 1971 Liberation War.
Imdad married Monwara Begum Bakuli on Nov 21, 1954. The couple have four sons and two daughters. Three of their sons have completed their graduation from the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka.
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