Murtaja Baseer

Bangladeshi artist (1932-2020)

Murtaja Baseer (17 August 1932 – 15 August 2020[1]) was a Bangladeshi painter.[2] He was also a poet, short story writer, novelist, researcher, numismatist, and filmmaker.[3][4]

Murtaja Baseer
মুর্তজা বশীর
Baseer in 1954
Born(1932-08-17)17 August 1932
Died15 August 2020(2020-08-15) (aged 87)[1]
Cause of deathCOVID-19
Resting placeOropesa del Mar
NationalityBangladeshi
Alma mater
OccupationPainter
Parent
RelativesMuhammad Takiullah (brother)
AwardsEkushey Padak

He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1980 by the Government of Bangladesh.[5]

Baseer worked at University of Chittagong as an assistant professor and served until 1998.

Baseer has written several novels including Ultramarine (1954), Kanch-er Pakhir Gaan (1969), Mitar Shangey Char Shandha and Amitakkhar. He was a regular contributor to literary journals like Dilruba, Samakal, and Saogat. His first published poem was Parbe Na.

Baseer was active in leftist politics during the 1950s and was sent to prison during the Pakistan government.[6]

In 1987, he received a fellowship from British Council to carry out research on folk and traditional art of Bangladesh.

Baseer died from COVID-19 in Dhaka on 15 August 2020, aged 87.[7]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 "Eminent artist Murtaja Baseer passes away". Daily Sun (Bangladesh). Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  2. "Murtaja Baseer turns 80". The Daily Star. August 18, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  3. "Daily Star honours 25 scholars, nation builders". The Daily Star. 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
  4. Ahmed, Monwar (1993). Bhasha Andoloner Sochitro Dolil. Dhaka: Agamee Prokashani. pp. 90–91. ISBN 984-401-147-7.
  5. "একুশে পদকপ্রাপ্ত সুধীবৃন্দ" [Ekushey Padak winners list] (in Bengali). Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  6. "Murtaja Baseer recalls the Language Movement". The Daily Star. February 22, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  7. "PM condoles death of Murtaja Baseer". The Independent (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 2020-08-22. Retrieved 2020-08-15.