The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Popular film star Manna died of cardiac arrest at the city's United Hospital Gulshan yesterday afternoon. He was 48.

Manna, admitted to the hospital after he fell sick in the morning, was kept on life support for several hours.

Hospital sources said, the doctors earlier found three blocks in his heart and had advised him angiogram. He reached the dizzying height of his popularity after starring in films such as Ammajan. He also won the best actor in 2006. He starred in over 200 films as well as becoming a producer.

The veteran actor was secretary general of the Bangladesh Film Actors Association, and in that capacity he played a significant role in the campaign against "vulgarity, obscenity and piracy" in Bangladeshi films.

A Dhaka film industry analyst said, films starring Manna, and his perennial interest Champa, were often hugely popular and profitable. He was the craze of that time.

He was started his career as actor in 1992. one of his first films that brought Manna to attention was, Danga. Other Manna blockbusters were Trash, Chadabaz and Abbazan.

Many of dhailiwood super stars and his fans gathered to the Hospital after they got the news Manna died.

The veteran actor is survived by his wife and son.

Manna will be buried after his wife Sheli Quader, a Biman employee, returns from Dubai.