The Artisan of the Final Resting Place, Manu Mia, who dug more than 3000 graves, breathed his last at 10:30 am on Saturday at his home in Itna Upazila of Kishoreganj.
His death leaves behind a legacy of life lived in utmost devotion and selfless piety, as the weight of the loss reverberates across his home district, Kishoreganj and beyond.
Bahauddin Thakur, Joyasiddhi Union Parishad's Panel chairman, confirmed the news and alluded to the shared pain of the villagers, as they mourn this fateful event.
Manu Mia's service spanned nearly five decades, as he patiently and quietly dug the final resting places for the deceased, more often than not strangers, at his own behest, never asking for remuneration in return. His only companion on his pilgrimage to the graveyards was a horse, much like some auspicious messenger, whose kindness can be beneficial for the departed souls to pass smoothly into the afterlife.
He became a familiar face throughout the region as he reached the bereaved homes riding his beloved horse to perform the funeral rites. The horse was his constant companion that provided him with mobility and speed to respond to any urgent calling from near and far. Once he had to sell his shop to buy that horse.
"He was not just a grave digger, he was a symbol of humanity," said local resident Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Rokon Reza.
It was during his time in the hospital that tragedy struck. While old and frail Manu Mia was bedridden in a hospital suffering from many illnesses, his old age caused some unidentified miscreants to kill his cherished companion. The death of his horse left him deeply shaken.
"At the time, some people offered to gift him a new horse to replace the one he had lost. But he refused. He told me, 'I do this only to please Allah. I never want to take anything from people," recalls Reza, visiting Manu Mia in the hospital recently after he had fallen seriously ill.
Panel Chairman Bahauddin Thakur said, "Since the death of his horse, Manu Mia grew noticeably weaker. Though he returned home after treatment, he never regained his strength. With his passing, we've lost a compassionate soul; a man like him is irreplaceable."
Manu Mia's death struck deep into many people's hearts.
For many, he was a symbol of an age that may never return, where selfless service, mercy and simplicity were not rare objects to witness.
"He lived for others. And now, even in death, he will be remembered by thousands whose loved ones found a final resting place through his hands," said a resident.
Manu Mia's Namaz-e-janaza would be held at 5:30 pm in his native village, Officer-in-charge of Itna Police Station, Zafar Iqbal, informed.
And now, Manu Mia will rest in the same kind of grave that he dug for others, leaving behind a world that treated him unjustly.
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