Professor Momtazuddin Ahmed, renowned playwright, actor and educationist breathed his last at Apollo Hospitals in Dhaka at 3:48pm Sunday. Professor Ahmed was undergoing treatment at the hospital from May 16. He was 85 years. His physical condition deteriorated over the past few days, and was being monitored in Intensive Care Unit. He had been suffering from various physical problems including respiratory complications for a long time.
According to sources, Momtazuddin Ahmed’s first Namaaz-e-Zanaza was held yesterday night. Later on, another Namaaz-e-Zanaza was held today at the central mosque of Dhaka University. His burial is to be beside his father’s grave at Bholahat, Chapainawabganj. With respect Momtazuddin’s last wishes, he did not want his body to be kept at the central ShaheedMinar for the public to pay their respects. Whether his body will be kept there is yet to be known.
Apart from plays, he has written several novels, research papers, essays, newspaper columns, screenplays for cinema, and text books for primary and secondary educations of Bangladesh.
Ahmed’s career as a teacher, writer as well as an actor earned him wide recognition but theatre is the most prolific part of his career. Professor Mumtazuddin Ahmad, a professor of language skills in various creative qualities, is also a language scholar. He was one of the pioneers in the drama movement of Bangladesh in 1997 as a playwright was awarded the Ekushey Padak.
He had a special skill in writing one act plays. He was also a part-time teacher of Jagannath University's Department of Dramatics and Dhaka University’s Department of Dramatics for some time. Besides, he taught Bangla language and literature and Bengali and European drama in different government colleges for 32 years.
He worked as an expert in national curriculum and curriculum formation from 1976-78. He was the director of research and publishing department at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from 1977-80. He was the founder of one of the country's renowned theater troupe (Natok Shoroni). Mamtajuddin Ahmed Momtajuddin was born on January 18, 1935 in the village of Aiho in Habibpurthana of Malda district of West Bengal, British India.
President, PM mourns death of Momtazuddin Ahmed Meanwhile, in separate messages, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday condoled thedeath of the veteran playwright, actor and educationist ProfMomtazuddin Ahmed. In a condolence message, the President expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey award-winner drama artiste Prof Momtazuddin.
Recalling the contributions of Momtazuddin to the fields of drama, education and literature with profound respect, President Hamid said, “The loss at his death is really irreparable.” The President also prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of eminent playwright, actor and educationist Professor Momtazuddin Ahmed.
In a condolence message, the prime minister recalled with profound respect the contributions of Momtazuddin to the fields of drama and education. “His death is an irreparable loss to these fields,” she said. Sheikh Hasina prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family. The Ekushey Padak-winning dramatist died at Apollo Hospitals here this afternoon.
