Shawdesh Desk:

Internationally acclaimed artist, painter and printmaker Kalidas Karmakar, who passed away on Friday, was cremated in the capital on Monday following the last respects paid by people from all walks of life.

His cremation took place at Baredeswari Kali Temple in the city’s Sabujbagh area around 2:00 pm, said Sourav Chowdhury, Executive Artistic Manager of Gallery Cosmos.

Earlier, people from all walks of life paid tributes to the Ekushey Padak-winning artist, painter and printmaker at Dhaka University and Central Shaheed Minar.

His body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar around 11:00 am where thousands of people, including artists Hamiduzzaman Khan, Hashem Khan, Monirul Islam, Rokeya Sultana, Farida Zaman and Shahed Quazi, Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr Akhtaruzzaman and Pro-VC Dr Muhammad Samad, former Ducsu Vice-president Akhtaruzzaman, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky and Columnist Mofidul Haque, and his fans and followers paid their respects to Kalidas.

Earlier, his mortal remains were taken to the Dhakeshwari National Temple from Birdem Hospital’s mortuary around 9:00 am.

From there, the body was taken to the Faculty of Fine Art of Dhaka University where thousands of people, including artists, paid their last tributes to the renowned artist.

Many organisations, including Gallery Cosmos, Cosmos-Atelier 71, Cosmos Books, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, Bengal Foundation, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Art, Cultural Affairs Ministry, Dhaka Gallery, BSCIC Design Centre, Bangla Academy and National Museum, laid wreaths at his coffin.

Gallery Cosmos Director Tehmina Enayet, Executive Assistant Director Rumessa Mailoux, Cosmos Books’ CCO ARK Reepon and others from Cosmos Group paid their emotional tributes to the lifelong friend and adviser of the Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos-Atelier 71.

Kalidas suffered a cardiac arrest at his Eskaton residence around 1:30 pm on Friday and was immediately taken to LabAid Specialised Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead around 2:00 pm.

The body had been kept at the Birdem Hospital’s mortuary as his two daughters—Kanka Karmakar and Keya Karmakar—had been in the USA. They returned home on Sunday.

Kalidas Karmakar was an adviser, friend and fatherly figure of Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos-Atelier 71.