Muzharul Islam, a pioneer architect of Bangladesh

Muzharul Islam (25 December 1923 – 15 July 2012) was a Bangladeshi architect, urban planner, educator and activist. He is considered as the Grand Master of regional modernism in South Asia. Islam is the pioneer of modern architecture in Bangladesh and the father of Bengali modernism. Islam's style and influence dominated the architectural scene in the country during the 1960s and 70s, along with major US architects he brought to work in Dhaka.
As a teacher, architect, social and political activist, Islam set the course of architectural practice in the country not only through his own many varied works but also through being instrumental in inviting architects like Louis Kahn, Richard Neutra, Stanley Tigerman, Paul Rudolph, Robert Boughey and Konstantinos Doxiadis to work in Bangladesh.

Projects of Muzharul Islam

• 1953-54: The Institute of Arts and Crafts , Dhaka , Bangladesh .

 

•  1953-54: Public Library (at present Dhaka University Library) Dhaka , Bangladesh . 

 

•  1963-64: Plan for Khilgaon Railway Rehabilitation Zone, Dhaka , Bangladesh .

•  1963-64: Plan for New Rangamati Town Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh .

•  1962: Housing of Class IV Employees, Azimpur Estate, Dhaka , Bangladesh .

•  1963-65: BCSIR Laboratory Buildings , Dhaka , Bangladesh .

•  National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) Building, Dhaka , Bangladesh .

•  1965-71: 14 storied Head Quarters Building, Agricultural Development Corporation, Motijheel, Dhaka , Bangladesh .

•  1965-71: 27 storied EFU Building (Jiban Bima Bhaban) Project, Motijhil, Dhaka , Bangladesh .

•  1965-71: Five Polytechnics at Rangpur, Bogra, Pabna, Sylhet and Barisal (in collaboration with Architect Stanley Tigerman), Bangladesh

•  1965-71: Road Research Laboratories, Dhaka .

•  1968-71: 1965-71: Chittagong University Master Plan and designs of Students' Hostel, Humanities Building, Science Building, Administrative Building, Readers' Quarters, VC's Quarters, Professors' Quarters, Storage And Godowns.

•  1968-71: Housing for Rooppur Atomic Energy Complex.

•  1968-71: Jahangirnagar University Master Plan and designs for Students' Hostel, Readers' Quarters, Class IV Employees' Quarters, Dhaka , Bangladesh .

 

  Site plan

 

 Campus

 

 

                                      Science Building

•  1980-84: Jaipurhat Limestone and Cement Project, Jaipurhat , Bangladesh : Master Plan, Housing for 200 officers, Housing for 1700 employees, Club house for officers and other employees, Clinic and hospital, Bazaar and Mosque.

•  1980-84: National Library and National Archives, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka , Bangladesh .

•  1987: Office Building for the World Bank, Dhaka , Bangladesh .

•  1995: 20 storied “Garden City” Project, Dhaka , Bangladesh .