Manu Mia, known as the ‘Worker of the Last Resting Place’, passed away this morning at his home in Algapara village, Itna upazila, Kishoreganj. He was 67 years old.
Md Monir Uddin, panel chairman of Joysiddhi Union Parishad, confirmed the news of his passing. Manu Mia dedicated nearly five decades to digging graves for others—never once accepting payment.
According to family members, he had long suffered from diabetes and age-related complications. He had recently returned home after receiving treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka, but his condition deteriorated again early Saturday morning.
For many in the community, Manu Mia was more than a gravedigger—he was a symbol of selflessness and compassion. His quiet commitment to serving others, often under harsh conditions, earned him the enduring respect of his neighbours. His work was not a profession, but a calling.
In an extraordinary act of devotion, Manu Mia once sold his rice field to buy a horse, which he used to travel to remote villages with his grave-digging tools whenever someone died. Just a month ago, while he was in Dhaka for treatment, the horse was tragically killed by miscreants. Yet even then, he showed no anger, only saying, “Maybe Allah has finished my duty of digging graves here.”
Despite not having children of his own, Manu Mia left behind a legacy that touched thousands of lives. His nephew, Shafiqul Islam, said that his uncle’s health deteriorated because he often neglected his own needs in favour of helping others.
Dr Ferdous Ahmed Chowdhury Lucky, a physician from Itna, remarked, “People like him are rare in today’s society. ‘Worker of the Last Address’ wasn’t just a title—it was his philosophy.”
As the news of his death spread, grief swept across the region. Locals gathered to mourn a man who had served them in their darkest hours—without ever asking for anything in return.
Manu Mia’s life was one of quiet heroism. In a world often driven by personal gain, he stood apart as a beacon of humanity. Though he is gone, his name will endure—in graves lovingly prepared and in the prayers of those he helped.
