Photo: Collected

Renowned playwright and Bangla Academy Award winner Mannan Hira passed away today at 9 pm at the capital's Kakrail Islamia Hospital, following a severe heart attack.

The news was confirmed by the General Secretary of Actors' Equity Bangladesh, Ahsan Habib Nasim.  

Mannan Hira was a senior member of Aranyak Natya Dal, and contributed immensely towards its success. He was also the President of Potho Natok Parishad. Among the 15 plays he had written, "Moyur Shinghashon" and "Laal Jomin" were especially popular.

He directed the government granted children's film, "Ekattorer Khudiram". The artiste would sporadically appear as an actor in television as well.

Mannan Hira had received the prestigious Bangla Academy Award in 2006, for his immense contributions to the field of theatre.