Dhaka: ‘Aparajeyo Bangla’ sculptor Syed Abdullah Khalid died undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka on Saturday night. He was 75.

Abdullah Khalid’s son, Syed Abdullah Jahir said the Ekushey Padak winning artist breathed his last at Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation for Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) at about 11:45am.

He said his father was undergoing treatment at the hospital under the supervision of Dr Arif Ahsan.

Body of the sculptor will be brought to Fine Arts Faculty of the University of Dhaka at about 11:00am on Sunday. The body will be kept at his favourite campus premises till 12:00noon. Later, his body will be taken in front of his iconic work ‘Aparajeyo Bangla’ at about 12:00noon and will be kept there until 12:30pm.

Abdullah Khalid’s namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayer) will be held at the Central Mosque in University of Dhaka after Zuhr prayer.

On 10 May Syed Abdullah Khalid was shifted to BIRDEM hospital. Earlier, he was admitted to Dhaka’s Central Hospital after he was bringing back to Dhaka from Sylhet.

The pioneer sculptor was kept at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital, as he was suffering from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Syed Abdullah Jahir said his father was suffering from chronic lungs infection and diabetes for a long while.

Abdullah Khalid left behind his wife, Umme Kulsum, two sons—Syed Abdullah Mohi, and Syed Abdullah Jahir, and only daughter, Syed Abdullah Nahid.

Born in Sylhet, Khalid completed his BFA in painting in 1969 from East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts (presently Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka) and did his MFA in painting and sculpture from the University of Chittagong in 1974.

Khalid’s works include distinctive commissions like the Monument on Liberation War of Bangladesh Aparajeyo Bangla in the Dhaka University Campus, the Terracotta relief on socio-cultural heritage at the Bangladesh Bank Head Office and a 447 sft Mural Abahaman Bangla at the Bangladesh Television Centre.

At various times he was nominated Judge by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy for national level exhibitions. In 1987 he was appointed team leader for participation in SAARC Workshop on Traditional Terracotta held in Madras, India. His works can be seen in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the Prime Minister’s Residence and other important private and institutional collections. Khalid has been honoured by the State through issuance of Commemorative Stamp and Silver Coin on his most notable work, the Aparajeyo Bangla.

Syed Abdullah Khalid was a professor at the Sculpture Department, Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka until his death.