Eminent Bangladeshi sculptor and artist Professor Hamiduzzaman Khan, one of the pioneers of modern sculpture in the country, passed away on Sunday morning. He was 79.
He passed away around 10:30 am at United Hospital in Dhaka, Gallery Cosmos Artistic Director Sourav Chowdhury told UNB.
The sculptor had been undergoing treatment at United Hospital after being admitted last week with severe pneumonia and dengue. His condition deteriorated in recent days, and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and later placed on life support.
Doctors declared him dead after removing life support on Sunday morning.
To pay final respects to Dhaka University’s Honorary Prof Hamiduzzaman Khan, his body was brought to the Faculty of Fine Arts today at 2:30 pm. After the tribute, his namaz-e-janaza was held after Asr prayers at the Central Mosque of the univeristy, Gallery Cosmos Artistic Director Sourav Chowdhury and Artcon Founder ARK Reepon told UNB.
His wife Ivy Zaman earlier informed the media that he had been in ICU care for three days. A medical board was monitoring his condition since Thursday, she said. Born on March 16, 1946, in Sahasram village of Kishoreganj, Hamiduzzaman received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1967 from the then-East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts (now the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University).
He later earned his Master’s degree from the MS University of Baroda, India, in 1976.
From 1970 to 2012, he served as a faculty member in the Sculpture Department at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University.
After the pioneering works of Novera Ahmed in the 1950s that ushered in modern sculpture in Bangladesh, Hamiduzzaman Khan played a significant role in expanding the medium through his distinct expressionist and minimalist approaches.
His works spanned both semi-abstract and abstract styles, combining thematic depth with experimental forms.
Renowned for his form-driven and concept-based sculptural works, one of his earliest major sculptures was 'Ekattorer Shmorone', created in 1976 in tribute to the Liberation War.
In 1988, he gained international recognition when his sculpture 'Steps' was installed at the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seoul, South Korea.
His artworks—ranging from large-scale public sculptures to watercolour and acrylic paintings—reflect a deep engagement with nature and the human form.
Among his notable sculptures are 'Songshoptok' at Jahangirnagar University, 'Hamla' at Sylhet Cantonment, 'Pakhi Poribar' at Bangabhaban, and 'Shantir Payra' at Dhaka University’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC).
In 2017, the Bangladesh National Museum hosted a retrospective exhibition titled 'Hamiduzzaman Khan 1964–2017', showcasing his lifetime achievements.
