Noted artist and national award-winning director Khalid Mahmood Mithu died yesterday afternoon after a tree fell on him while he was on his way home from office.
The incident took place around 2pm in the capital’s Dhanmondi Road 4. Khalid was on his way home from office on a rickshaw when a krishnachura tree – which stood at the edge of the footpath – fell on the rickshaw, leaving Khalid critically injured as he was crushed under the tree.
The rickshaw puller was also injured in the incident.
Locals said the nor’wester on Sunday might have loosened the roots of the tree and it suddenly fell in the afternoon the following day.
Dhanmondi police station OC Nure Alam Mia said Khalid was declared dead by doctors around 2:30pm after locals rushed him to the nearby Gonoshasthya Nagar Hospital.
Terming it a tragic accident, the OC said that they had removed the tree from the spot and the road was clear for traffic movement.
Khalid’s family said they informed his only son Arjo Shrestho who was in London and they would discuss about burial after he reached Dhaka. Until then, Khalid’s body will be preserved at Birdem Hospital.
Meanwhile, hearing the news, many media and cultural personalities rushed to Khalid’s residence in Dhanmondi and expressed their condolences.
Born in 1960 in Dhaka, Khalid completed his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Institute of Fine Arts in Dhaka University. He directed his first film “Gahine Shobdo” for which he won the National Film Award in 2010 in the best director category. Another film he directed, “Jonaki’r Alo,” also gained him popularity.
He also won Arab Bangladesh Bank Award in 2007 in the 16th National Art Exhibition organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
He is survived by wife Kanak Chanpa Chakma, who is also a noted artist, and their two children – son Arjo Shrestho and daughter Shiropa Purnais.
