Legendary Bangla movie star Abdur Razzak popularly known as ‘Nayak Raj Razzak’ (doyen of acting) died yesterday of cardiac arrest at Dhaka’s United Hospital. He was 75.
“Razzak was taken to the hospital at around 5.20pm while the on-duty doctors declared him dead around 6.13pm,” Dr Shagufa Anwar, communication director of United Hospital, told newsmen.
President M Abdul Hamid has expressed profound shock at the death of legendary actor.
In a condolence message, the president said the contribution and huge popularity of Abdur Razzak in Bangladesh film arena will be remembered forever.
“Razzak’s role in spreading Bengali culture to the globe will be recalled with due respect from generation to generation,” President Hamid said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock at the death of the legendary actor.
In a message of condolence, Sheikh Hasina recalled the contributions of Razzak to the country’s film industry, saying: “With his death, the country’s film industry and the cultural arena as a whole have lost a legend and the loss is not easily reparable.”
She also recalled his contributions to moving the Bengali film industry forward after the War of Liberation. The prime minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed her deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Razzak was the paramount figure in the Dhallywood film industry. He had been suffering from pneumonia and old-age complications.
The matinee idol of yesteryear had started his career in television before making it to the silver screen in the 1960s.
He received Bangladesh’s highest civilian honour, the Independence Award, in 2015 for his role in the cultural arena.
Razzak was brought to the hospital after he suffered a cardiac arrest, said Ujjwal, a customer care representative at United Hospital.
“We couldn’t get a pulse. The duty doctor tried to revive him. He was declared dead at 6:15pm.”
Razzak was born on January 23 of 1942 in Kolkata of undivided India.
He had lost his parents at a young age, and studied in Tulleyganj’s Khanpur High School.
After struggling to make a break in Kolkata, he decided to work for the growing film industry of the erstwhile East Pakistan instead.
In 1964, he travelled to Dhaka where his struggle continued.
But after his stint in television, he gained success on the big screen.
In his career of five decades as an artist, Razzak starred in more than 500 films and directed 16.
Neel Akasher Niche, Shwaralipi, Jibon Theke Neya, Etotuku Asha, Rongbaz, Baadi Theke Begum, Ananta Prem, Alor Michhil, Obujh Mon, Anarkali, Chhutir Ghanta, Oshikkhito and Dui Poishar Alta are some of the films that helped him emerge as the iconic hero of his industry.
Razzak left behind wife Khairunnesa Lokkhi, three sons Bapparaj, Bappi and Samrat and two daughters Shampa and Moyna.
Razzak ... mourned
