Aparajeyo Bangla sculptor Syed Abdullah Khalid passes away

Sculptor Syed Abdullah Khalid has died.

The Ekushey Padak-winning sculptor breathed his last at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka around 11:45pm on Saturday, his son Syed Abdullah Zahir told bdnews24.com. 

The septuagenarian's works include Aparajeyo Bangla at Dhaka University campus.

Zahir said the artist was suffering from diabetes and respiratory problems for a long time.

He said his father fell ill and was hospitalised when he went to Sylhet in the last week of April to take part in a programme. Sylhet was his place of birth.

He was taken to Dhaka's Central Hospital on May 2 when his condition deteriorated and then transferred to BIRDEM's Intensive Care Unit on May 10.

Besides Aparajeyo Bangla, his 'Abahaman Bangla' mural in front of the Bangladesh Television Center and the terracotta in front of the Bangladesh Bank building earned applause from the public and the critics alike.   

He was awarded Shilpokola Padak in 2014 and Ekushey Padak this year for his contribution to art and sculpture.

He completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting in 1969 from the erstwhile East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts, which is presently the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University. He received his postgraduate degree in painting and sculpture from Chittagong University in 1974.

Starting his career as a teacher of Chittagong University, he got the job to sculpt Aparajeyo Bangla at Dhaka University in 1972.

He started to design the sculpture in 1973 and began his creative work engraving on a piece of huge stone in January 1979. He completed the work in December the same year. The sculpture depicts the participation of men and women from all walks of life in Bangladesh's struggle for freedom.

Khalid is survived by three sons and a daughter.