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4 years ago

Artist Murtaja Baseer dies of Covid-19

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Eminent artist Murtaja Baseer has died in hospital care after being diagnosed with the coronavirus infection at the age of 88.

He passed away during treatment in Dhaka's Evercare Hospital at 9:10am Saturday, his family confirmed.

His namaz-e-janaza or funeral prayer service will be held after the Zuhr prayers on Saturday after which, he will be laid to rest at the Banani graveyard, she added.

Baseer was suffering from heart, lung, kidney and old-age ailments. Earlier, he was admitted to the ICU, reports bdnews24.com.

Son of Dr Muhammad Shahidullah, a famous linguist, Murtaja Baseer was born in Dhaka’s Ramna in 1932. He was the chairman of the Fine Arts Department at Chattogram University.

A pioneer of surrealist art, Baseer had produced many famous paintings, including  'Dewal,' 'Shahid Shironam,' and 'Pakha’.

He made the first linocut painting titled 'Roktakto Ekushey'. His artworks include mural, block print and others.

Baseer published his anthology of poems 'Tatka Rokter Khinorekha' in both Bangla and English. In 1979, he published his first novel 'Ultramarine.'

He received the Ekushey Padak in 1980 for his contribution to art. He also received the Swadhinata Puroshkar in 2019.

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