Ekushey Padak recipient actor and dramatist Masum Aziz has passed away.

He breathed his last around 3:30 pm at a private hospital in the capital, Aziz's son Utso Zaman confirmed this to the newsmen.

Masum Aziz was on 'life support' at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Square Hospital from Thursday last with cancer and cardiac problems. He had been suffering from heart-related ailments for a long time. His cancer was detected on January 2 this year. Since then, he was receiving treatment at the hospital.

He completed the first phase of the chemotherapy course well from Square Hospital. But, the problem started when he had undergone the second phase of chemotherapy.

Aziz's son Utso Zaman said, "My father's cancer was detected at the beginning of this year. The first phase of chemotherapy was completed well. But, his body couldn't accept when the second phase of chemotherapy began. Subsequently, my father fell sick on the 24th of last month. He was admitted to hospital on that day. We brought him at home as his condition was improved. However, his condition deteriorated again after four days and we admitted him to Square Hospital on October 8. After that, he was on life support at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital from Thursday."

Aziz earned fame through acting on stage, in television dramas and cinemas. He joined the group theater while studying in university.

He acted in his first TV drama in 1985. He has so far acted in more than 400 plays in his long career.