Noted artist Hamidur Rahman’s three historic murals installed inside the Central Library of Dhaka University in mid-fifties are kept in negligence by the authorities, artists and art critics observed.
‘The negligence in preserving three fresco-murals and a relief-sculpture by the university authoritie for years is not acceptable. These historic works by Hamudur Rahman must be given due attention and should be displayed properly,’ said Nasimul Khabir, a teacher of the Sculpture Department of Faculty of Fine Arts.
Noted artist and sculptor Hamidur Rahman, who is a sculptor and an artist, is best known as the designer of the Central Shaheed Minar.
The mural titled ‘Borak Duldul’ featuring horses and carts is installed at the journal section in the library. But it has remained almost unnoticed as two book selves are set in front of it.
Hamidur Rahman’s another mural titled ‘Fisherman’s Village’, features traditional scenario of our villages where fishermen are busy catching fish, is installed near the rear entrance of the library. But the beautiful view of half of the mural is obstructed by a pile of books and files kept on the top of a shelf.
The mural titled ‘Boat Composition’ is installed just on the opposite of Fisherman’s Village. The mural presents an aesthetic picture of boat, a common motif of the traditional Bengal. For a building pillar in front of the mural, nobody even gives a look at the mural.
Even most of the university students never noticed these murals as different objects are set in front of those. The students of DU have never experienced the view of the three murals.
Mehedi Hasan, a student of Political Science Department, told New Age, ‘I never knew that Hamidur Rahman’s murals are installed in the Central Library and there is no guiding sign that can lead the students to the murals.’
English Department student Majedul Haq said, ‘As those murals have no caption, we don’t know who made those.’
Librarian In-charge Professor M Nasiruddin Munshi said, ‘We will take measures to ensure that visitors can have a view of those murals very soon.’
There is another mural situated in the same library, but it has no caption and credit line which was in fact created by noted sculptor Novera Ahmed.
Courtesy of New Age
