Sculptor Shamim Sikder dies

Ekushey Padak awardee sculptor and former professor of Dhaka University Shamim Sikder died this afternoon.

She died around 4:30pm while being treated at the United Hospital Limited in Dhaka, Imran Hossain, a curator of Shamim Sikder Sculpture Park, confirmed to The Daily Star.

The 70-year-old artist was suffering from multiple illnesses, including cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney complications, Imran said quoting doctors.

Shamim is survived by two children, who live in London.

The late artist's body is scheduled to be taken to DU's faculty of fine arts around 11 am, her curator said adding that from there she will be taken to Central Shaheed Minar for people from all walks of life to pay their last respect. She will be buried at Mohammadpur graveyard beside her parents' grave.

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The artist came to Bangladesh seven months ago from London where she had been living for a long time, aiming to complete her incomplete works. She was hospitalised after four months upon falling ill.

"Her dreams remain incomplete. She dreamt of reconstructing the sculpture of Zainul Abedin at DU's faculty of fine arts, and urged the university authorities to unveil it after the reconstruction," said Imran.

Imran also mentioned that Shamim had plans to reconstruct the Guernica sculpture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, she could not proceed with the plan due to alleged non-cooperation from the ministry.

Shamim Sikder was the youngest sister of ultra-leftist leader Siraj Sikder.

Born on October 22, 1952, the legendary sculptor was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2000 by the government of Bangladesh. A professor of the sculpture department of DU's faculty of fine arts, she built the "Shoparjito Shadhinota" at DU's TSC in 1990 and Swadhinata Sangram at the university's Fuller Road area. She is also the sculptor of Swami Vivekananda at Jagannath Hall.

Shamim also built the sculpture at Dhaka Central Jail in 1974, commemorating the country's founding president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and later sculpted Shoparjito Shadhinota in 1988.