Hamiduzzaman receives Sultan Padak

Hamiduzzaman Khan (centre) receives award from Md. Ahad Ali Sarkar, State Minister for Youth and Sports.Photo: STAR

Artist Hamiduzzaman Khan, one of the most accomplished painters of Bangladesh, has received the S.M. Sultan Padak (award) for the year 2013.
The artist received the award on January 20 in Narail. Md. Ahad Ali Sarkar, State Minister for Youth and Sports, was present at the award giving ceremony as chief guest. Presided over by Zohurul Haque, Deputy Commissioner of Narail and also president of Sultan Foundation, the event was attended by, among others, Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy; Advocate Subhash Bose, administrator, Narail Zila Parishad; Kazi Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, vice president, Bangladesh Hand Ball Federation; Sharif Humayun Kabir, chairman, Narail Sadar Upazila; Barun Kumar Biswas, acting principal of Narail Victoria College; and Ashiqur Rahman Miku, member secretary of Sultan Foundation.
The award is conferred jointly by S.M. Sultan Foundation and Narail district Administration. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs provide patronage to the award. The award has been given annually since 2001.
An elated Hamiduzzaman said, “I am overwhelmed. This is a motivation for me to dedicate myself even more to my work.” He said that this was his first visit to Narail. The scenic and tranquil environment, he said, charmed him. “I am impressed by the hospitality of Narail residents and will never forget this day,” he added.
Asked about the preservation of Sultan's paintings, he commented that these are national assets, so the government should recruit restorers.
Hamiduzzaman was born in 1943 at Sohosram village, under Kishoreganj district. After graduating from the Government College of Arts and Crafts (now Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka) in 1967, he went to M.S. Baroda University in India and completed Master of Fine Arts from there. He received a higher degree (1982-83) in sculpture from Sculpture Center in New York.
He joined Government College of Arts and Crafts (now Faculty of Fine Arts) as a teacher (from 1970 to 2012). The artist received Sreshtho Puroskar on sculpture from Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1976. He was awarded the Ekhusey Padak in 2006.
His works have been exhibited in USA, Europe and beyond.