Veteran theatre personality, actor, playwright, and stage director Ataur Rahman breathed his last at 11:50pm on Monday (May 11) while undergoing treatment at Popular Hospital in the capital. The country’s cultural community will pay their final respects to the distinguished artiste today (May 12).

General Secretary of the Actors Equity Association, Rashed Mamun Apu, said that the mortal remains of Ataur Rahman, a lifetime member of the organisation and a pioneer of Bangladesh’s stage movement, will be kept at the Central Shaheed Minar from 3:00pm to 4:00pm today (May 12) for people from all walks of life to pay their last respects.

He further said that Rahman’s funeral prayers will be held after Zuhr at the open field in front of his residence at Ispahani Century Arcade in Moghbazar later that day. He will subsequently be laid to rest at Banani Graveyard.

Born on 18 June 1941 in Noakhali, Ataur Rahman was regarded as one of the pioneers of Bangladesh’s post-independence theatre movement. Over several decades, he made significant contributions to the country’s cultural sphere as a playwright, actor, stage director, and writer.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to arts and culture, he was honoured with both the Ekushey Padak and the Independence Award.