People pay final respects to Masum Aziz at Shaheed Minar

People from all walks of life on Monday paid tributes to Ekushey Padak-winning veteran actor and playwright Masum Aziz at the capital’s Central Shaheed Minar yesterday (Oct 18) afternoon.

After the first namaz-e-janaza at the capital’s Banasree at 9am, his body was brought to the Shaheed Minar at 11 am under the management of the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote so that people from all strata can pay their last tributes to the veteran actor.

Actor Utsha Zaman, the son of Masum Aziz, said, “I cannot explain in words how much the people of this country love my father. There is nothing more to say than to express gratitude for this. I will be grateful for the rest of my life to those who stood by our side and fought together in the last ten months.”

“My father was the best father in the world. He struggled and suffered a lot throughout his career but did not let that pain touch to his children. I was probably the last person who spoke to my father before he died. Until his last breath he kept saying to me, ‘I will be fine.

And you will not cry’. On the contrary, he was the one who comforted me. This is how Baba (father) gave us courage. There is no father like mine,” he added.

Media personalities including Asaduzzaman Noor, Dilara Zaman, Mamunur Rashid, Ramendu Majumdar, Golam Kuddus, Nader Chowdhury, Ahsan Habib Nasim, Salahuddin Lavlu, Chayanika Chowdhury and many others came and spoke at this tribute ceremony organised by Sammilita Sangskritik Jote.

Then, his body was taken to Dhaka University Central mosque for his second namaz-e-janaza.

After that, his body will be taken to Pabna. According to his last wish, he will be buried in his hometown at the Municipal Cemetery of Faridpur upazila in Pabna.

Masum Aziz breathed his last on Monday (Oct 17) at around 3 pm, at Square hospital in the capital.

He was battling cancer for several years and suffering from heart-related ailments too.

Aziz started his journey as an actor in 1972. He has performed on stage, television and film.

While studying at Chittagong University, he made his acting debut in theatre. In 1985, he debuted in TV drama. Masum has starred in more than four hundred TV dramas and notable films.

He has been honoured with the National Film Award for his performance in ‘Ghani’ in 2006. Apart from this, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian award, this year for his contribution to acting.