Milon Kanti Dey, a Bangladeshi Jatra actor, director, writer and cultural activist, died on February 7, 2026, at the age of 78.
Born on July 15, 1947, in Chhanhara, Bengal Province, British India, he was recognised for his work to refine and modernize Jatra pala, a traditional theatrical art form of Bangladesh, and for campaigning to improve its ethical and artistic standards. Dey won the Bangla Academy Literary Award in the Drama category in 2022.
He was president of Jatrashilpa Unnayan Parishad, directed more than 120 Jatra productions and acted in more than 151, and founded Desh Opera in 1993.
Milon Kanti Dey (15 July 1947 – 7 February 2026) was a Bangladeshi Jatra actor, director, writer and cultural activist. He was recognised for his pioneering work towards the refinement and modernization of Jatra pala, a traditional theatrical art form of Bangladesh, and for his campaigns towards the Jatra art’s ethical and artistic uplift. Dey won the Bangla Academy Literary Award for the Drama category in 2022.