Jatra artiste Anwarul Gani Balbon passes away

A highly popular face in local theatre and jatra pala, Anwarul Gani Balbon breathed his last at his residence here early on Friday at the age of 65.
Balbon was a member of Mymensingh Loko-kristi Sangstha, a cultural group of the town.
He left behind his wife, two daughters, a son and a host of relatives and admirers to mourn his death. He had been ailing from complications caused by blood cancer, for the last six months, family sources said.
Motiur Rahman, MP; former lawmaker Delwar Hossain Khan Dulu and cultural personalities in and outside the town visited the residence of the late artiste to pay their respects.
Born in 1947 in Mymensingh town, Balbon, a dedicated drama and jatra artiste played different characters in more than 200 stage plays and jatra pala during his 45-year career.
He acted in many historical jatra pala, including “Nabab Siraj-ud-Dawla”, “Bagdutta” and “Kohinoor”. He also acted in several plays in and outside the district. Some of these plays were “Ekhono Mirzafar”, “Khandito Boloy”, “Uchu Talar Manush”, “Rastar Chhele”, “Dayee Ke”, “Palashtalir Shanu”, “Karagare Nazrul” and “Sagar Shecha Manik”.
For his contribution, he was honoured by Mymensingh Theatre Association in 2005.
Shahadat Hossain Khan Hilu, presidium member of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation and secretary of Bahurupi Natya Sangstha said that the death of Balbon would create a vacuum in the cultural arena of Mymensingh.
Ali Azhar, secretary of Bidrohi Natya Goshthi said, the drama artistes of this generation will surely miss the accompaniment of Balbon, an important figure in this field. The artiste will be remembered.
They also prayed for the salvation of the departed soul.