Renowned sculptor Mrinal Haque died at his residence in the city’s Gulshan area on Saturday. He was 62.
He had been suffering from a number of ailments, including diabetes.
Mrinal breathed his last at around 2:00am on Saturday as his sugar and oxygen levels dropped, said Mohammad Rubel, a close associate of the sculptor.
He was buried at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Dhaka after his namaz-e-janaza at Azad Mosque at Gulshan after asr prayers.
He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.
Mrinal was born on September 9, 1958 in Rajshahi.He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University.
Mrinal went to the United States in 1995 and returned to Bangladesh in 2002.
He became known for various colossal sculptures and murals at both home and abroad.
His notable works include ‘Balaka’ at Motijheel in the capital, the ‘Golden Jubilee Tower’ marking Rajshahi University’s Golden Jubilee, ‘Ishpater Kannya’ at Dhanmondi 27, ‘Ratnadwip’ in front of the prime minister’s office, ‘Rajsik’ in front of the Hotel Intercontinental, ‘Atalantike Basati’ in front of the Navy Headquarter, ‘Janani O Garbita Barnamala’ at Paribag circle, ‘Kotowal’ at Eskaton and many others.
He also created mosaic paintings, sculptures and murals in New York City.
Mrinal was not only praised for his works but also criticised.
He participated in many national and international exhibitions and received awards. His exhibition was held at the Consulate of Bangladesh in New York City in 1999, celebrating the 28th anniversary of Independence of Bangladesh depicting themes of the Liberation War.
Mrinal also opened his own celebrity museum in Bangladesh under the name of ‘Mrinal Haque’s Celebrity Gallery’ on December 8, 2018 at Gulshan in the capital. He was greatly inspired by the world-famous Madame Tussaud’s wax museums.
The gallery opened with 32 sculptures of different prominent personalities including Sheikh Hasina, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Che Guevara, Shakira, Michael Jackson, Shahrukh Khan, Donald Trump, Bob Marley, Lionel Messi, Rowan Atkinson, Johnny Depp, Charlie Chaplin and others.
State minister for cultural affairs KM Khalid expressed his deep shock at the death of the sculptor.