Hundreds pay tributes to Subhash Dutta

DHAKA, Nov 17, 2012 (BSS) - Bugles played the last post while hundreds queued in lines with flowers to pay tributes to legendary Bengali filmmaker and actor Subhash Dutta at the Central Shaheed Minar.

He passed away yesterday at the age of 82.

A contingent of police offered the guard of honour and salutes as somber looked admirers and fans stood in solemn silence at the altar of the Shaheed Minar against the backdrop of last post in bugles also recalling his contribution to the 1971 Liberation War as an artiste.

On behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu was the first to offer wreaths on the coffin draped in national standard while others followed him with floral bunches or wreaths and had their last glimpses of Dutta.

Inu announced that steps were underway to preserve his works at the national archive with a special status while his fans organized a retrospective of films he acted or directed at the Drik Gallary at Dhanmandi from November 20 to 26.

"He is legendary figure . . . he gave Bengali film a new dimension competing with the then great Pakistani filmmakers" in erstwhile Pakistan, he said.

Dutta, who earned the Bengali film industry a competitive status with his first directed "Sutarang" in Bangla appearing himself as hero with Kabari being his counterpart in 1960s, is set to be cremated this evening at the Pastagola crematorium.

The body was kept at his RK Mission Road residence overnight while it was first taken to Ramkrishna Mission this morning being a leading devotee of the spiritual centre, and then it was brought to the Shaheed Minar to allow cross section of people to pay their homage.

Hundreds of people including minister, political leaders, professionals, cultural activists, students, friends and admirers rallied in queue for two hours to pay their last homage to the celebrated son of the soil by placing floral wreaths on the coffin under the arrangement of the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote.

Pale of gloom descended at Central Shaheed Minar as the body was brought there at about 10.30 am. Family members and admirers broke into tears making the air of Shaheed Minar heavy in their wail.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique placed floral wreaths on the coffin of the versatile talented Shubhash Dutta.

Cultural personalities Ramendu Majumdar, Pijush Bandapadhyay, Asaduzzaman Nur, Abdul Jabbar, Fakir Alamgir, Ilias Kanchan and noted photographer Salma Ahmed also paid their tributes to the deceased.

DU Teachers' Association, Bangladesh Awami Hindu Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad, Bangladesh Awami Sechchasebak League, DU Film Society, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Satyen Sen Shilpi Goshthi, Bangladesh Pramanya Chitra Parshad, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Bangladesh Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee, Bangladesh Sanatan Dharmiya Shammilita Parishad, Bangladesh Short Film Forum,

Shubhash Dutta's son Shibaji Dutta, daughter in law Joya Dutta, grand children Ichchha Dutta, Titli Das, Drishti Das, Purna Dutta and Bedanta Majumdar and nephew Shahishnu Dutta were present on the occasion.

After completion of the last civic tributes, the body was taken to Bangladesh Film Department Corporation (BFDC) premises, where colleagues, followers and students paid their homage. His last rites will take place this evening at Postagola crematory, family sources said.