October has almost been over now, while both November and winter are on the way. Sadly none of these would be revisited by some of the prolific and iconic personalities, whom the nation has lost in the month of October. So here's to the legendary figures, whom we bid adieus on October in 2021.

Veteran actor Mahmud Sajjad (October 24)

Popular actor Mahmud Sajjad, known as one of the most prominent faces in the Bangladeshi entertainment sphere, passed away on Sunday, October 24, at the age of 73. The renowned actor was admitted to the Evercare Hospital in the capital upon testing positive for Covid-19 on September 1st. He was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after his condition got worsened.

He eventually got remission from Covid-19, however, was returned to the ICU once again due to complications following his Covid-19 treatment and had to stay there for 54 days before breathing his last.

As a film actor, Mahmud Sajjad debuted in "Sangsar," directed by acclaimed director and martyred intellectual Zahir Raihan. "Jhorer Pakhi" by Khan Ataur Rahman, "Apon Por" and "Chokher Joley" by Aziz Azhar are among his other significant works in cinema. He joined the theatre group 'Natyachakra Natyadal' during his student life, and appeared in well-known plays such as "Let There Be Light" and "Spartacus." He was a regular face in television drama and serials, and his debut drama serial was 'Sakal Sandhya'.

KM Khalid, Mahmud Sajjad's younger brother, is the current State Minister of Cultural Affairs. His elder brother, renowned actor M Hamid was the Director General of Bangladesh Television (BTV), sister-in-law and popular actor Falguni Hamid was the former Director of Bangladesh Shishu Academy, and his niece, Tonima Hamid, is a well-known television model and actor.

Television, film, and theatre actor Shamim Visti (October 22)

Renowned theatre, television and film actor Shamim Visti passed away on October 22, last Friday morning at the age of 55. According to Shahiduzzaman Selim, president of Actors Equity Bangladesh, Visti died at a city hospital at 4.30 am on Friday due to a brain haemorrhage.

A member country's one of the oldest theatre troupes 'Natyachakra,' Shamim Visti was born in Kobutorkhola, Srinagar, Munshiganj in 1966. He has starred in 'Natyachakra's popular theatre production "Bhoddornok" several times. He actively participated in many socio-cultural projects while being in Japan in Tokyo International Culture Academy productions.

The actor was working on a new production for Bangladesh Television (BTV), a series directed by Mamunur Rashid and produced by Fazle Azim. He was a renowned face in the television industry and also appeared in the film "Porobashini." Apart from these, Visti was also a member of the Actors Equity Bangladesh and even ran for president in the previous election.

Renowned actor-playwright-director Kayes Chowdhury (October 21)

Just a few hours prior to Shamim Visti's unfortunate demise, his teacher and noted actor, director and playwright Kayes Chowdhury passed away on Thursday night at his Dhanmondi residence at 7:30 pm, after returning home from the Ibn Sina Hospital, Dhanmondi in the capital where he went for his regular kidney dialysis. He passed away after returning home.

Kayes Chowdhury is a renowned actor, dramatist and director, popularly known for his works in television. He became a well-known figure in the world of package tele-fiction, thanks to his fantastic playwriting abilities and superb direction. Aside from playing and directing plays, he was also a teacher.

Kayes Chowdhury wrote and directed BTV's popular tele-fiction "Na," which starred Tania Ahmed, Tony Dias, and Shomu Chowdhury. He has also directed popular tele-fictions such as "Tritiyo Noyon" and "Sopno Ebong Tumi."

Kayes Chowdhury also appeared in Chayanika Chowdhury's tele-fiction "Shopno Morubhumi" and Saiful Islam Munna's "Goriber Kopal ey Shanti Ney." His performances in both pieces were praised tremendously.

Eminent thespian Dr Enamul Haque (October 11)

Ekushey Padak winning legendary actor, dramatist and educator Dr Enamul Haque passed away at his Bailey Road residence in the capital on October 11, Monday, at the age of 78.

According to the Actors Equity Bangladesh general secretary Ahsan Habib Nasim, Dr Enamul Haque's pulse was not available in the afternoon and he was then immediately brought to the Islami Bank Central Hospital in Kakrail, where the doctors pronounced him dead.

Dr Enamul Haque was born on May 29, 1943, in an aristocratic Muslim family in the then-British India district of Feni. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry from the University of Dhaka in 1963 and 1964, respectively. In 1965, he joined as a lecturer at BUET's chemistry department and became an Assistant Professor in 1970. For his research in the subject of synthetic organic chemistry, he received his PhD from the University of Manchester, UK, in 1976 and also worked as a post-doctoral research fellow in medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacy Department for the same university till 1977. After returning to Bangladesh, he became BUET's Associate Professor and Professor in 1979 and 1987 respectively. He served as the chairman of the Department for 15 years and also acted as the Dean of the faculty of Engineering for two years.

A legendary thespian and dramatist in Bangladesh, Enamul Haque started his journey in the cultural sphere of the country by acting on Mustafa Monwar's tele-fiction "Mukhora Romoni Boshikoron" in 1968. In the same year, he began working as a dramatist, and so far he has written nearly 60 television dramas including "Oneekdiner Ekdin," "Sheishob Dingulo," "Nirjon Shoikot," and "Ke Ba Apon Ke Ba Por." He staged and participated in several street dramas against the government of Pakistan in different parts of Dhaka city, during the mass uprising in 1969 and the 1971 Liberation War.

Dr Enamul Haque left behind his wife, renowned thespian Lucky Inam and two daughters, actor Hridi Haque and Proitee Haque. Hridi is married to actor Litu Anam and Proitee is married to actor Saju Khadem.

Eminent journalist Rafiqul Haque 'Dadubhai' (October 10)

Rafiqul Haque, renowned Bangladeshi journalist, dramatist and poet and feature editor of Daily Jugantor, popularly known as 'Dadubhai', has passed away on October 10, Sunday, at the age of 85. According to his wife, the eminent journalist breathed his last at his own residence in the Mugda area in the capital after battling with old-age complications. He also battled with Covid-19 and was hospitalized twice in the last year. He returned to his workplace Jugantor after surviving Covid-19, however, he was completely bedridden for the past six months due to his old-age complications.

Rafiqul Haque Dadubhai was born on January 8 in 1937, in the Kamal Kachna area, Rangpur. He was the initiator of a children's page called 'Chander Hat', published in the Daily Purbodesh, from which he got the title of 'Dadubhai'. He then founded the dedicated organization for children 'Chander Hat' in 1974.

Haque served as the Executive Editor of the Dainik Rupali, Dainik Janata, and worked in several important positions for Dainik Azad, Dainik Lal Sabuj, Bangladesh Observer and his last workplace, the Daily Jugantor newspapers during his distinguished career. From 1976 until 1983, he was the acting editor of the Kishore Bangla, the Indian subcontinent's only weekly newspaper dedicated to children.

In 2019, Rafiqul Haque Dadubhai received the Bangla Academy Award and the Bangladesh Children's Academy Award for his significant contribution to Bengali children's literature. He has received numerous additional prizes, including the Agrani Bank Children's Literature Award, Chandrabati Academy Award, and All India Children's Literature Award.

JU Drama and Dramatics Professor Dr Afsar Ahmed (October 9)

Professor Dr Afsar Ahmad, renowned educator, playwright and Jahangirnagar University's Drama and Dramatics Department's co-founder, died of a heart attack on October 9, Saturday, at the age of 60. He was pronounced dead at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in the capital. He suffered a cardiac attack on the plane while returning to Dhaka from Khulna and was immediately taken to the hospital, where the doctors pronounced him dead.

Professor Afsar Ahmad was born on September 30, 1959, in the Manikganj district's North Jamsha village, Singair upazila. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the Language and Literature department at JU. Later on, he earned a PhD from JU for his outstanding research on Bangladeshi ethnic drama.

Afsar Ahmad began his teaching career as a lecturer at Jahangirnagar University's Bangla department, then moved on to the country's first full-fledged Drama and Dramatics department in 1986, in which he played a crucial role in the foundation alongside Selim Al Deen. Alongside teaching, he also performed various important duties for the university administration including Chairman of the Drama and Dramatics department, Dean of Arts and Humanities faculty, Proctor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and an elected member of the Senate and Syndicate. Besides, he was also a renowned poet, playwright, researcher, translator, and literary critic.