Dhaka, May 12 -- Actor, director and cultural icon Ataur Rahman, a recipient of the Independence Award and Ekushey Padak for his theater work, has died.

He passed away in the wee hours of Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Popular Medical College Hospital in Dhaka's Dhanmondi. He was 84.

Rashed Mamun Apu, general secretary of Actors Equity Bangladesh, said Ataur died around 12:30am at the hospital, adding that cultural activists began arriving soon after hearing the news.

He had been admitted on Friday in a critical condition and was later placed on life support.

"His final wish was to receive homage at the Central Shaheed Minar. We will try to get permission in the morning," Apu said.

He added that funeral prayers and other arran...