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Published : 18 Jun 2026, 07:51 PM
National award-winning artist and puppeteer Mustafa Monwar has been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Dhaka where he was rushed after his “oxygen level and blood pressure dropped”.
His wife Merry Monowar told Glitz on Thursday the artist, who has been suffering from multiple physical complications for a long time, was taken to the ICU on Jun 14.
She requested everyone to pray for his speedy recovery.
The 91-year-old had been hospitalised several times in the past few months, with the last reported admission on May 20.
He was discharged on Jun 5 without “full recovery”, said Merry.
Just three to four days after returning home, his condition deteriorated again, she said, adding that Monwar had to be admitted to the hospital again on Jun 14.
"After coming home, his oxygen level suddenly started to drop and so did his blood pressure. When we contacted the doctor, he advised immediate hospitalisation. He [Monwar] has been in the ICU since then."
Born on Sept 1, 1935, in Jashore’s Sreepur, the 2024 Ekhushey Padak winner has been suffering from various age-related ailments over the last several years.
He bagged many other awards in his illustrious career such as the All India Fine Arts Competition Award in 1957, Tenashinas Padak for TV drama in 1990, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Award for special contribution to arts in 1992, and Anando Bichitra Award in 2004.
Monwar started his career as a lecturer at the East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts. Later, he joined as the director general of the East Pakistan branch of PTV (now Bangladesh Television).
He also served as the director general of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and the National Institute of Mass Communication, as the managing director of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, and as the chairman of Bangladesh Shishu Academy.
Monwar tied the knot with Merry in 1965. The couple have a daughter, Nandini Monwar, and a son, Sadat Monwar.
