Ekushey Padak and National Film Award winning actor ATM Shamsuzzaman passed away at his Sutrapur residence in Dhaka on Saturday morning. He was 79.

He breathed his last at around 9:06am, his daughter Koyel Ahmed confirmed.

ATM Shamsuzzaman was taken to Asgar Ali Hospital on February 17 after suffering from breathing problems and brought to his residence on Friday afternoon. There he tested negative for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the demise of the veteran actor.

“The popular artist will live in the hearts of the people of the country through his outstanding acting,” the Premier said in a condolence message.

She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family.

The namaz-e-janaza for ATM Shamsuzzaman will be held at Narinda Pir Shaheb Mosque after Zuhr prayers and the second will be after Asr prayers at Sutrapur Mosque. He will be laid to eternal rest at Jurain Graveyard.

ATM Shamsuzzaman was born on 10 September 1941 in Daulatpur, Noakhali. His career began as an assistant director in Udayan Chowdhury’s film ‘Bishkonnya’ (1961).

UNB adds: His legendary acting career started in 1965. He earned his big name as an antagonist in Amjad Hossain’s film ‘Nayanmoni’ (1976).

In his esteemed career as a journeyman in Dhallywood, ATM Shamsuzzaman wrote more than one hundred screenplays. He debuted as a director with the film ‘Ebadat’ in 2009.

The legendary comedian and antagonist won six National Film Awards for Best Actor in Kazi Hayat’s ‘Dayee Ke?’ (1987), Best Comedy Actor in ‘Madam Fuli’ (1999), ‘Churiwala’ (2001), ‘Mon Boshe Na Porar Table A’ (2009), Best Supporting Actor in ‘Chorabali’ (2012) and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

He was also conferred upon the Ekushey Padak in 2015 for his outstanding contributions to Bangladesh’s film industry.