Ataur Rahman, one of Bangladesh’s most respected theatre personalities, died late Monday night while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital. He was 84.

General Secretary of the Bangladesh Ovhinoy Shilpi Sangho, Rashed Mamun Apu, confirmed the news through a Facebook post.

He wrote that Ataur Rahman, a valued member of the organisation and a beloved colleague in the theatre community, breathed his last at a hospital in Dhaka.

Family members said Ataur Rahman’s health deteriorated after he fell at his residence on Friday. Relatives first admitted him to a hospital in Gulshan before shifting him to another hospital in Dhanmondi for intensive care support.

Doctors later placed him on life support as several organs began to fail.

Born on 18 June 1941, in Noakhali, Ataur Rahman played a pioneering role in Bangladesh’s post-independence theatre movement. He earned acclaim as a playwright, actor, stage director and writer during a long and distinguished career in the cultural arena.

The government honoured him with the Ekushey Padak and the Independence Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the country’s arts and culture.

His death cast a shadow of grief across the cultural community. Theatre activists, actors, writers and admirers expressed deep sorrow and paid tribute to his lifelong dedication to the performing arts.