Well known artist Murtaza Basheer has passed away. This artist, who is one of the best in our art and cultural history, did not stop at exploring his own creations. He has immersed himself in various branches of art.
He wrote short stories, novels and poems. He has translated his own book of poems 'Tatka Rakter Khinorekha’ into English. Short stories 'Kancher Pakhir Gaan’ (1969), Novel 'Ultramerin' (1979), Poetry 'Trasarenu' (1976), 'Tomakei Shudhu' (1979), 'Eso Phire Ansuya' (1985), Mortaza Basheer : ‘Murta O Bimurta’'(2001), research book' Habshi Sultan of Bengal and the then society in the light of coins and inscriptions' (2004), story book' Mitar Sangey Char Sandya’(2008) and 'Galpasamgra' (2008) have been published.
In addition, several research articles have been published in various journals in the subcontinent, which has given him the recognition and reputation as an intensive researcher. Besides art, his literary work also deserves equal credit. In 1954, he passed in painting and drawing from the Government Institute of Arts securing first division. He studied painting in Florence, Italy in 1956-57 and received a higher degree with Fresco in 1957-58. His first solo exhibition was held in 1958 at the Gallery La Permanente in Florence. There were 20 exhibitions of his solo paintings at home and abroad. The number of his murals is 7. He started teaching in the Department of Fine Arts, Chittagong University in August 1973 and retired from there.
From 1963 to 1964, he did not draw any paintings since he was involved in filmmaking for almost two and a half years. When Humayun Kabir's novel 'Nodi O Nari' was sent to him from Delhi with many changes in his screenplay, he was hesitant as to whether he would allow it or not. Not only permission, Humayun Kabir also praised the screenplay. He also wrote screenplay for Director Zaheer Raihan. But he severed ties with the film industry and returned to art. This important artist in the art history of Bangladesh never stopped.
He started reading English literature in the sixties, as well as world literature. Once upon a time, he drew a picture on a stanza of Spanish poet Garcia Lorca. Mortaza Basheer has dragged us into his strange life. His whole life dominates our feelings. We continue to be attacked. But he created all the immortal paintings of a new subject. In this way, the traveling Murtaza Basheer fascinated us by drawing from one subject to another. He was constantly flowing and exceptional through observations. He had been suffering from lung problems for the last five years. He could mix with the people as to avoid carbon dioxide inhaled by humans which is harmful. He had to breathe with the help of instruments all the time. Corona snatched Murtaza Basheer, an early student of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin and a great second generation artist of Bangladesh.
The news of the death of this great artist also casts a heavy shadow of mourning on the National Mourning Day among the art lovers. Leading artists like Rafiqun Nabi, Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Manirul Islam, Nisar Hossain, Dean Of Fine Arts faculty, Dhaka University, Gautam Chakravarty of gallery Kaya, Prima Nazia Andalib, Anisuzzaman Sohel and Nirjhar Naishabda all activist and craftsmen in the filed of fine art mourned the deatth of Murtaza Basheer. They expressed their condolences and described Basheer’s sad demise as a great loss for the fine arts in the country as well as abroad to Special Correspondent of Barta 24 Shimul Salahuddin.