Azharul Islam Sheikh
Azharul Islam Sheikh Chanchal is a Bangladeshi academic and the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka.[1] He is a professor of the department of ceramics at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka.[2][3]
Early life
[edit]Sheikh completed his PhD at the University of Rajshahi.[4]
Career
[edit]Sheikh participated in the 11th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh in January 2004, held at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.[5]
Sheikh, as a newly recruited teacher at the Institute of Fine Arts, was among four faculty members who, alongside Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatradal activists, attacked protesting students at the Institute of Fine Arts in June 2005.[6] Armed with bamboo sticks, Azharul and his colleagues physically assaulted students, including slapping and punching female protesters.[6] The attack, aimed at dispersing demonstrations against the Vice Chancellor and Proctor, resulted in severe injuries, with some students reportedly missing.[6] The Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatradal later took responsibility for the violence, justifying it as retaliation.[6] This incident occurred amid growing concerns over declining academic standards at the University of Dhaka.[6]
In February 2024, Sheikh did a solo exhibition of his sculptures at Mrittikanjali at Zainul Gallery 1.[7] He dedicated the exhibition to the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement and the Bangladesh Liberation War.[8]
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government, Sheikh condemned the attacks and vandalism of scupltures throughout Bangladesh.[9] The Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka, Professor Nisar Hossain, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Abdul Bachir, were forced to resign by the Students Against Discrimination for supporting the previous government and preventing the ran recitation program at the campus.[10][11] After his resignation, students performed Quran recitations and prayers.[10] Sheikh was then appointed dean of the faculty of fine arts.[12] The 26th batch of the Faculty of Fine Arts boycotted the Mangal Shobhajatra in 2025 due to it being politicalized, which Sheikh denied.[13] The event would include 20-foot sculpture of Abu Sayeed, who died in protests against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Artist Hasura Akther Rumky wins OPSG Award". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ "Faculty Members Details :: University of Dhaka". www.du.ac.bd. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ "Broken House". Safiuddin Shilpalay. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ "Home :: Dhaka University". du.ac.bd. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ Archive, Asia Art. "The 11th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 2003". aaa.org.hk. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ a b c d e "A Hell of a Teacher". Star Weekend Magazine. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ Alom, Zahangir (22 February 2024). "An artistic homage to the martyrs". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ "I pay tribute to martyrs thru art: Chanchal". New Age | The Most Popular Outspoken English Daily in Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ "Attack on sculptures, murals alarming: artists, activists". New Age (Bangladesh). 13 August 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ a b "DU Faculty of Arts dean resigns amid student protests". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ "2 DU deans step down in face of protests". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ ":: University of Dhaka". www.du.ac.bd. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ "DU Fine Arts students boycott Mangal Shobhajatra citing political influence". Daily Sun. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ^ "New Year procession will feature a 20-foot-long sculpture of Abu Sayed". Prothomalo. 2025-03-25. Retrieved 2025-04-02.