Subhash Dutta cremated amid state honour

DHAKA, Nov 17, 2012 (BSS) - Legendary Bengali filmmaker and actor Subhash Dutta was cremated today amid state honour, a day after he breathed his last due to old age ailments at his residence at the age 82.

Hundreds of people joined his funeral at the Postagola Crematorium as he was cremated in line with religious rites after the body was brought there in the afternoon.

Earlier, the body was taken at the Central Shaheed Minar where a cross section of people paid glowing tributes to Dutta, who earned the Bengali film industry a competitive status in the 1960s in erstwhile Pakistan period when the Urdu and Hindi films alone dominated the movie theatres.

A contingent of police offered the guard of honour and salutes as sombre 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.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique were among others to place wreaths on the coffin of the versatile talent while cultural personalities Ramendu Majumdar, Pijush Bandapadhyay, Asaduzzaman Nur, Abdul Jabbar, Fakir Alamgir, Ilias Kanchan were there.

Hundreds of people including politicians, professionals, cultural activists, students, friends and admirers rallied in long queues with wreaths or floral bunches to pay their last homage on the coffin under the arrangement of the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote.

After civic tributes, the body was taken to Bangladesh Film Department Corporation (BFDC) premises, where colleagues, followers and students thronged, to pay their last respect to the legend of the Bengali film industry.

Inu told the mourners 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.

The body was kept at his RK Mission Road residence overnight while it was first taken to Ramkrishna Mission this morning being a devotee of the spiritual centre, ahead of bringing it for public viewing at the Shaheed Minar.

Dutta virtually staged a revolution in the Bengali film industry with his first directed "Sutarang" in Bangla appearing himself as hero with Kabari being his counterpart in 1960.

Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA), Hindu Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad, 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 placed wreaths on the coffin at the Shaheed Minar.

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.

President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia earlier issued statements mourning his death seeking eternal peace for the departed soul and conveying sympathy for the bereaved family members.