Veteran artist Kamruddin Absar passes away

Renowned Gono Sangeet artist and organiser of Bangladesh’s progressive cultural movement Kamruddin Absar has passed away.

He breathed his last on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka.

According to family members, Absar had been suffering from various health complications for many years. He suffered a stroke in 2011 and had been receiving treatment at home since then.

His condition deteriorated recently after he contracted pneumonia and influenza. He was admitted to a hospital in the capital on 14 May and was later placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he died while receiving treatment.

Kamruddin was closely associated with Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir for many years. He also played a significant role as an active organiser of the Ganasanskriti Front. In addition, he maintained a long-standing relationship with the mass music group Srijon.

A dedicated activist of left-leaning cultural movements, Absar used music and culture as tools to advocate for the rights of workers, farmers, and other marginalised communities. His death has cast a shadow of grief over the country's cultural and political circles.

Besides performing Gono Sangeet, Kamruddin wrote and composed numerous songs throughout his career. He also composed music for many children's rhymes and literary works. Colleagues and fellow cultural activists believe that his lifelong contributions greatly enriched Bangladesh’s progressive cultural movement.

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Various cultural and political organisations have expressed deep condolences following his death.

His body will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar on Monday morning, where members of the public will be able to pay their final respects from 10:30am to 12pm.

Following the Zuhr prayer, his funeral prayer (Janaza) will be held at the Dhaka University Central Mosque.