FROM AZIMPUR: Eminent artist Qayyum Chowdhury was laid to rest at Azimpur Graveyard at Azimpur in city on Monday after largely attended funerals.
The artist was buried by his father-in-law Khan Saheb Badruddin Ahmed’s grave around 4:40pm Monday.
A milad mahfil will be held for the departed soul on Friday after Jumma prayers.
Earlier, the body of Qayyum Chowdhury was taken to Chhapra Masjid in Azimpur around 3:45pm where his last Namaz-e-Janaza was held.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of people from all walks of life thronged Central Shaheed Minar to pay their last tribute to Qayyum Chowdhury.
Floral wreaths were placed to the Shaheed Minar on behalf of the President and Prime Minister. Moreover, artists, teachers, students, activists of various cultural organizations were also present there.
Qayyum Chowdhury’s body was taken to his former workplace at Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University at 10:00am.
The veteran artist suddenly fell sick during his speech on the fourth-day of Bengal Foundation organized classical music festival at Bangladesh Army Stadium around 8:40pm on Sunday.
Then, he was whisked off to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) immediately where on-duty doctor pronounced him dead.
His body was then kept at Square Hospital mortuary.
However, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition leader Rowshan Ershad, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and other socio-cultural organizations expressed their deep shocks in separate messages on the death of the artist.
The eminent artist Qayyum Chowdhury was born on March 9 in 1932. He is famous for his cover designs - but his significance as a painter is immeasurable.
During the past fifty years, he had adorned this field with abundance and diversity. A passion for literature, music and film made his quests of life optimistic, variety seeking and an abundant source of good taste.
He joined Dhaka Government Art Institute as a teacher in 1957. He got married in 1960 and in the same year, he left the teaching profession and joined Design Center as a designer.
On 20 October 1965, he again joined Government Art College of Dhaka (now Fine Arts Institute) as a lecturer in the commercial art department.
He was promoted to the position of assistant professor on 7 February 1970, to associate professor on 16 January 1986 and finally to professor on 13 February 1991.
He retired from this institute in 1994. However, he continued teaching in the institute until 2002 (first by extension of his service and later as a supernumerary teacher).
As a worthy predecessor of Shilpachariya Zainul Abedin and Patua Qamrul Hassan, Qayyum Chowdhury also possessed patriotism, put in endless efforts in his work to express the beauty and essence of the country and was committed to the folk tradition.
Within a few years after passing from the institute, he received the national award for his contribution to art (1961–62). In the same year, he received the first prize in the All Pakistan Art Exhibition held in Lahore for his painting titled ‘Bottom’.
Four years later, he received the award of the Royal Court Inn Teheran Biennale (1966). Shilpakala Academy Award (1977), Ekushey Award (1986), 6th Bangabandhu Award (1994), Leipzig Book Fair Prize for Book Illustration (1983), Gold Medal for contribution in book design, National Book Center, Dhaka (1975), 1st Prize, Best Book Cover Design, National Book Center (1988, 1982, 1981, 1979, 1978, 1975, 1970, 1966, 1964 and 1963), 1st Prize Railway Time-Table Cover Design (1995 & 1960), Swadhinata Padak (2014).
** Tribute paid to Qayyum Chowdhury
BDST: 1810 HRS, DEC 01, 2014
