Remembering the stars we lost in 2021

Sarah Begum Kabori

Celebrated actress and former lawmaker for Narayanganj-4, Sarah Begum Kabori, died on April 17 after ending her battle with Covid. The National Film Award-winning actress passed away at the age of 71. Her death came as a huge shock to the country’s film industry. As a director, her last project ‘Ei Tumi Shei Tumi’ was in the making.

ATM Shamsuzzaman

Veteran actor ATM Shamsuzzaman passed away at his Sutrapur residence in the capital on February 20 at the age of 80. He was suffering from various health complications since 2019. The six-time National Film Award-winning actor was also honoured with Ekushey Padak in 2015 for his contribution to Bangla films. ATM Shamsuzzaman starred in more than a hundred films in his lifetime. In 2006, he made his directorial debut with the film ‘Ebadat’.

Fakir Alamgir

Folk icon Fakir Alamgir breathed his last at the intensive care unit of United Hospital in Dhaka on July 23 after ending his battle with Covid-19. He was 71. The celebrated people’s song singer is remembered for his roles as a performer of the Kranti Shilpi Gosthi and Gana Shilpi Gosthi during the 1969 Mass Uprising and as an artiste of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the 1971 Liberation War.

Ekushey Padak winning Fakir Alamgir is one of the pioneering artistes who put a contribution to Bangla pop music. He was the founder of the cultural platform Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi and the president of Gana Sangeet Samanya Parishad. The news of his death came as an immense shock to the country’s music fraternity.

Mita Haque

Eminent Rabindra Sangeet singer Mita Haque died at the age of 59 after contracting Covid-19. She breathed her last at a hospital in the capital city in the early hours of April 11. For her outstanding contribution in the field of music, Mita Haque was honoured with Ekushey Padak in 2020 and Bangla Academy’s Rabindra Puraskar in 2017.

Mita was a regular performer in BTV since 1977. She also served as the head of Rabindra Sangeet Department at Chhayanaut and also as the general secretary and vice-president of Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad. The celebrated singer was married to actor Khaled Khan who passed away in 2013.

Wasim

Veteran Dhallywood actor Mesbahuddin Ahmed Wasim, better known as Wasim, is considered one of the top actors of Bangla films in the 70s and 80s. The actor proved his worth in various genres ranging from action films to folk fantasy. Wasim breathed his last at the age of 71 on April 18. He was suffering from kidney and lungs issues along with other health complications for several years. His remarkable films include ‘Rater Por Din’, ‘Dost Dushman’, ‘Chandan Dwiper Rajkanya’ ‘Asman Zameen’ and ‘Bahadur’. Wasim is survived by a son.

Dr Enamul Haque

Prominent theatre and TV personality Dr Enamul Haque passed away at his Baily Road residence in the capital on October 11. He was 78. Apart from acting, Enamul Haque also proved his worth as a playwright by writing TV plays such as ‘Onekdiner Ekdin’, ‘Sheishob Dingulo’, ‘Nirjon Shoikot’, and ‘Ke Ba Apon Ke Ba Por’. The Ekushey Padak winning actor participated in several street dramas in Dhaka during the mass uprising in 1969 and the 1971 Liberation War. Enamul was laid to rest at Banani Graveyard. He is survived by his wife Lucky Inam and daughters Hridi Haque and Proitee Haque.

SM Mohsin

Ekushey Padak winning actor SM Mohsin is another victim to have died of Covid infection. He is known for his performance in theatre productions like ‘Rokte Bheja Shapla’, ‘Kobor and Chithi’, ‘Subachan Nirbasane’ and ‘Dipantar’. Mohsin was an acting director-general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and also project director of the National Theatre. He passed away on April 18 at BIRDEM General Hospital in Dhaka.

Mahmud Sajjad

Noted cultural personality and actor Mahmud Sajjad, who was infected with Covid-19, passed away at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on October 24 at the age of 73. Sajjad was active as an actor on the stage, small screen and also the silver screen. He is known for his performance in stage plays like ‘Late There Be Light’, ‘Spartacus’, and ‘Janak’, and the films ‘Jhorer Pakhi’ directed by Khan Ataur Rahman, Zahir Raihan’s ‘Songshar’ ‘Chokher Jole’ by Aziz Azhar and ‘Apan Por’. Begum Mamtaj Hossain’s drama serial was ‘Sakal Sondha’ starring Mahmud Sajjad aired on BTV was a massive hit. The actor is survived by his wife and two sons.

Shahin Alam

Actor Shahin Alam, who was active in the Dhallywood film industry from 1993 to 2013, passed away at the age of 58. He breathed his last at Asgar Ali Hospital on March 8 this year after suffering from kidney disease for several years. Last seen in Rakibul Alam Rakib directorial ‘Darwaner Chele’ in 2011, Shahin Alam appeared in more than 150 films including ‘Ghater Majhi’, ‘Prem Protishodh’, ‘Raag Anurag’, ‘Deshdrohi’, ‘Amar Ma’, ‘Shaktir Lorai’ and ‘Dhakaiya Mastaan’.

National Film Award-winning music director Farid Ahmed and singer-composer Jane Alam are two other victims to have succumbed to the virus. While undergoing treatment at separate hospitals in Dhaka, Alam passed away on March 2 and Farid breathed his last on April 13. Besides, actor, director and playwright Kayes Chowdhury died at his Dhanmondi residence on October 21 and actor Shamim Visti died on the next day.