Legendary Bangladeshi sculptor Shamim Sikder passed away on Tuesday at United Hospitals in the capital, aged 70. She passed away at around 4:30 pm, renowned art curator and ARTcon founder ARK Reepon told UNB. The Ekushey Padak-winning sculptor was undergoing treatment and had long been suffering from various health complications. She was admitted to the hospital on February 19 and shifted to the CCU on March 9. Earlier, she was admitted to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases before getting admitted to the United Hospitals, after coming back home from the United Kingdom. Her body will be taken to the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art premises on Wednesday at 11 am, Reepon told UNB. Born on October 22, 1952, in Faridpur, Sikder enrolled at the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts at the age of 15. At the age of 23, she moved to the Sir John Cass School of Art in London, UK. After coming back to her motherland, she served as a faculty member at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University from 1980 to 2001. After taking her retirement, she went back to London. She returned to Bangladesh seven months ago from the UK to preserve her artistic ventures; however, became unwell and hospitalised.  In 1974, she built a sculpture at Dhaka Central Jail to commemorate the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She crafted her majestic work, ‘Shoparjito Shadhinota’ at DU's TSC in 1990 and Swadhinata Sangram at the university's Fuller Road area in the capital which was inaugurated in 1999. Her other monumental works include the sculpture of Swami Vivekananda at Jagannath Hall in 1994 and many others in the home and beyond, and she has also participated in many exhibitions showcasing her majestic sculpture works. Sikder received the Prime Minister’s Award for Sculpture in 1974 and was later awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2000, among many other awards. She is survived by two children, who live in London.     

Setara Musa, a noted journalist who edited the women's section of various newspapers, passed away at a hospital in the city on Tuesday. She was 83. Setara, daughter of the prominent journalist Abdus Salam, breathed her last at the hospital in the afternoon, said journalist Parveen Sultana Jhuma, her own daughter. The namaz-e-janaza of Setara, also the wife of prolific journalist ABM Musa, will be held at Iqbal Road Mosque in Mohammadpur after Esha prayer. Later, her body will be taken to Fatehpur in Feni on Wednesday morning where she will be buried after Zuhr prayer near the grave of her husband ABM Musa.    

Former Vice President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) Abu Alam Chowdhury died at a hospital in the capital on Monday. He was 75. The eminent businessman breathed his last around 11 pm. Namaz-e-Janaza of the deceased will be held on Wednesday at Nikunj-1 Jame Masjid after Zohar prayers. FBCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin has expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Abu Alam. In a condolence message, Jashim Uddin said the FBCCI will always remember his  contributions to the business community. The FBCCI President prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family. Alam was born on 30th  September ,1948 in a respectable Muslim family in  Chittagong district. He did his Masters in Political Science from the University of Chittagong. He played a commendable role in the great 69 movements against the Pakistani rulers, said the FBCCI. During his studentship at Chittagong University, Alam was elected as cultural secretary and later served as general secretary of Chittagong University Central Students Union (CUCSU) and participated in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. After completing his education, he started his business career in the media sector. Chowdhury served as Vice-President of FBCCI and Director for 6 terms covering 12 years in the apex trade body . Also Read: Raise awareness about intellectual property : FBCCI He also served as Vice-President of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) from 2008-2010. He was a founding member of the Daily Financial Express, a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh, and a former EC member of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry.  

Bangladesh-born Indian filmmaker Tarun Majumdar died at a hospital in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on Monday. He was 92. Majumdar passed away at Kolkata's premier government-owned SSKM Hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for age-related illnesses for the past couple of days,his family members told the media. Born in Bangladesh's Bogura district in January 1931, Majumdar won four National Film Awards in his career spanning over six decades. His movies focussed on tales of middle-class families in Bengal. Also read: Space scientist Dr AM Chowdhury passes away He was honoured with Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 1990. Majumdar made his directorial debut, under the screen name Yatrik, with the 1959 hit Bengali film 'Chaowa Pawa' starring Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen. He made blockbuster movies such as 'Balika Badhu', 'Kancher Swargo', 'Kuheli', 'Nimantran', 'Ganadevata', 'Aranya Aamar', and Dadar Kirti. His wife Sandhya Roy acted in lead roles in 20 of his films. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's ruling Trinamool Congress party and several film celebrities party took to social media to express their grief at the demise of the veteran filmmaker. "Indian Cinema has lost an icon today! We are crestfallen at the demise of the great Padma Shri awardee Tarun Majumdar. His notable works based on compelling themes contributed greatly to Bengali cinema," the Trinamool Congress tweeted. Also read: Eminent lyricist, journalist KG Mostafa passes away Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee tweeted, "Heartfelt condolences to Jethu's family and well-wishers." “Tarun Majumdar moves on. One of our greatest storytellers and whose films I learnt from,” wrote filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh.

Fatema Zahura Begum, mother of former Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor and Director of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) AJM Nasiruddin passed away  Monday morning. She was 90. She breathed her last at the Max Hospital in the port city of Chattogram due to brain hemorrhage. The BCB expressed deep bereavement at the death ofFatema Zahura Begum extended condolences and profound sympathies to AJM Nasir Uddin and his family members. Bangladesh Olympic Association also condoled the death. Bangladesh Volleyball Federation also expressed condolence at the death of Fatema Zahura.

Legendary Bangladeshi writer and publisher Qazi Anwar Hussain, popularly known for his espionage-thriller novel series Masud Rana, passed away on Wednesday. He was 85. The writer breathed his last at the BIRDEM General Hospital in the capital, said his daughter-in-law Masuma Maimur in her Facebook post. "Abba (referring to Qazi Anwar Hussain) was diagnosed with prostate cancer on October 31st and was hospitalized five times after that evaluation. There was not much opportunity for treatment. He also suffered a stroke and a heart attack prior to his death, while he had been on life support since January 10," Masuma writes in her post. According to Qazi Anwar Hussain’s sister and Chhayanaut President Sanjida Khatun, he was admitted to BIRDEM and taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) yesterday. Regarding the rituals for his burial, Sanjida Khatun said his body will be kept in the hospital for tonight while his funeral and burial will be held on Thursday morning. READ: TH Khan passes away Qazi Anwar Hussain was born to the National Professor and scientist, writer and educationist Qazi Motahar Hossain and Sajeda Khatun on July 19, 1936. He completed his matriculation from St. Gregory's School in 1952. He obtained his BA from Jagannath College (now Jagannath University) and MA in Bengali Literature from Dhaka University in 1981. Best known for introducing the massively popular spy-thriller series ‘Masud Rana’ to Bangladeshi readers, Hussain started his first press business in Segunbagicha in 1963 as the Segunbagan Prakashani. The first publication was named the ‘Kuasha-1’ and it was published in June 1964. After renaming the publishing house as the Sheba Prakashani, Qazi Anwar Hussain published the first edition of ‘Masud Rana’ book series titled ‘Dhwongsho Pahar’ in 1966. The books from this popular spy series have been inspired and adapted from foreign thriller and spy novel series. Hussain was married to famous singer Farida Yasmin till her demise in 2015. Together they had three children: sons Qazi Maimur Husain and Qazi Shahnur Husain, and daughter Shahrin Sonia. Among his siblings, Hussain’s eldest sister Zobaida Mirza has been a professor and author, other older sister Sanjida Khatun is a renowned Bangladeshi musicologist, and his two younger sisters, Fahmida Khatun and Mahmuda Khatun are also singers. Hussain himself was also an enlisted singer for East Pakistan Radio from 1958 to 1966. READ: Bangladesh Athletics Federation president Ali Kabir passes away For his excellence in Bengali literature, Qazi Anwar Hussain received the Independence Day Award in 1979, Bachsas Award for Best Screenplay and Dialogue for the film ‘Masud Rana’ in 1974 and Bangla Academy Literary Award (1966), to name a few.

Rajshahi University Social Work department’s Professor Md. Faruk Hossain died of cancer on Monday. He was 49. According to the department of Social Work, Prof Faruk Hossain breathed his last at 5:45 am while undergoing treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai city on Monday. READ: AL leader Joynal Hazari of Feni passes away Rajshahi University Social Work department chairman Professor K M Rabiul Karim said, Professor Faruk was survived by his wife and a daughter. He had been suffering from cancer since 2019. He was student-friendly and the most popular teacher in the department, also a very talented teacher and a good researcher. It is very difficult to find a teacher like him at the present time, he added. RU vice-chancellor Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar expressed deep sorrow through a condolence message over the death of Professor Faruk Hossain. Contextually, Professor Faruk was born in 1982 in Dogachhia village of Jessore Sadar Upazila. He secured his BSS (Honors) and MSS degrees with a first class in 1993 and 1994 respectively from the Institute of Social Welfare and Research of Dhaka University. He joined the Rajshahi University Social Work department as a lecturer in 2002 and was promoted to Professor in 2016.

Ekabbar Hossain, member of parliament from Tangail-7 constituency, passed away at a hospital in city on Tuesday. He was 76. Ekabbar, also the president of Mirzapur upazila unit Awami League, breathed his last around 2 pm while undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka, said his son Barrister Tahrim Hossain Simanto. He left behind his wife, one son, two daughters and a host of relatives to mourn his death. Also read: Late artist Qayyum Chowdhury’s wife Tahera Khanam passes away Ekabbar, also a valiant freedom fighter, returned from the constituency winning the four successive general elections in 2001, 2008, 2014 and 2018. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the demise of the Ekabbar Hossain. She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. Also read: Noted physicist Dr Harun-ar-Rashid passes away

F.W. de Klerk, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela and as South Africa’s last apartheid president oversaw the end of the country’s white minority rule, has died at the age of 85. De Klerk died after a battle against cancer at his home in the Fresnaye area of Cape Town, a spokesman for the F.W. de Klerk Foundation confirmed on Thursday. De Klerk was a controversial figure in South Africa where many blamed him for violence against Black South Africans and anti-apartheid activists during his time in power, while some whites saw his efforts to end apartheid as a betrayal. Also read: African children should get world's 1st malaria vaccine: UN It was de Klerk who in a speech to South Africa’s parliament on Feb. 2, 1990, announced that Mandela would be released from prison after 27 years. The announcement electrified a country that for decades had been scorned and sanctioned by much of the world for its brutal system of racial discrimination known as apartheid. With South Africa’s isolation deepening and its once-solid economy deteriorating, de Klerk, who had been elected president just five months earlier, also announced in the same speech the lifting of a ban on the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid political groups. Amid gasps, several members of parliament members left the chamber as he spoke. Nine days later, Mandela walked free. Also read: Bangladeshi investors should eye untapped African continent: Experts Four years after that, Mandela was elected the country’s first Black president as Black South Africans voted for the first time. By then, de Klerk and Mandela had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their often-tense cooperation in moving South Africa away from institutionalized racism and toward democracy. END/AP/UNB/FA

Ekushey Padak-winning legendary actor and dramatist Dr Enamul Haque passed away at his Bailey Road residence in the capital on Monday. He was 78. General Secretary of Actors Equity Bangladesh Ahsan Habib Nasim said Dr Enamul Haque was taken to Islami Bank Central Hospital at Kakrail in the afternoon as his pulse was not found and doctors at the hospital pronounced him dead. The sudden departure of Dr Enamul Haque, also a teacher, has left a shadow of grief on the country’s cultural arena. Born on May 29, 1943 in an aristocratic Muslim family in Feni, Dr Enamul Haque earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry from the University of Dhaka in 1963 and 1964, respectively. Also read: Noted physicist Dr Harun-ar-Rashid passes away In 1965, he joined as a lecturer at BUET's chemistry department and became an Assistant Professor in 1970. For his research in the subject of synthetic organic chemistry, he received his PhD from the University of Manchester, UK, in 1976 and also worked as a post-doctoral research fellow in medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacy Department for the same university till 1977. After returning to Bangladesh, he became BUET’s Associate Professor and Professor in 1979 and 1987 respectively. He served as the chairman of the Department for 15 years and also acted as the Dean of the faculty of Engineering for two years. Also read: Veteran filmmaker Shafiqur Rahman passes away A legendary thespian and dramatist in Bangladesh, Enamul Haque started his journey in the cultural sphere of the country by acting on Mustafa Monwar's tele-fiction "Mukhora Romoni Boshikoron" in 1968. In the same year, he began working as a dramatist, and so far he has written nearly 60 television dramas including "Oneekdiner Ekdin," "Sheishob Dingulo," "Nirjon Shoikot," and "Ke Ba Apon Ke Ba Por". He staged and participated in several street dramas against the government of Pakistan in different parts of Dhaka city, during the mass uprising in 1969 and the 1971 Liberation War. Dr Enamul Haque left behind wife Lucky Inam, a renowned thespian herself, and two daughters, actor Hridi Haque and Proitee Haque. PM shocked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Dr Enamul Huq. In a condolence message, the Prime Minister said the contribution of Dr Enamul Huq to the field of drama will ever be remembered. She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to his bereaved family members.