Page 218 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

GRAPHIC DESIGN 215

During the three decades after liberation, there has been a host of cover design artists
who have also showed their skills in illustration. Among them Kazi Hasan Habib who
died an early death, demands special mention (pl. 4.14). He did a lot of work within a
limited period. He left the mark of his creativity in the illustration of novels, essays,
articles and children’s literature. He took care in designing covers that were pleasing
and soothing and showed special taste in selection of colors. He did numerous covers
deserving mention. Among these are Humayun Ahmed’s Eishob Din Ratri, Kothao
Keu Nei, Abu Bakar Siddique’s Jalrakhhosh, Imdadul Haque Milon’s Nirbachito
Premer Galpo, Poradhinota, Selina Hossain’s Mogno Chaitonye Shish. Kazi Hasan
Habib was the regular cover artist of many volumes of compiled articles published
from Bangla Academy.
As an illustrator, Afzal Hossain appeared with great strength. He has executed some
memorable covers. He was the pioneer of a distinct style. He is now totally inactive in
the field although he did much work at one time. His uniqueness in drawing and
lettering is still remembered today. Some of his significant works are Achin Jadukor,
Chita Rohoshyo, Bohubrihi, Bawannogolir Ekgoli, Nayok etc.
Khalid Ahsan also created a distinct style in cover and illustration art (pl. 4.15). His
use of abstraction and various colors in the cover and illustration of books of poetry
signals originality. In Omanush, 1971, Achinpur, Hey Anonter Pakhi, Collective Works
of Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah, Helal Hafiz’s Je Jole Agun Jole etc. we find
expression of his unique, original and diverse taste.
Asem Ansari, Masuk Helal, Mamun Kaiser, Yusuf Hasan, Biren Shome, Abdur Rouf
Sarkar, Chandra Shekhar Dey, Farida Zaman, Showkatuzzaman, Dhali Al Mamoon,
Ainul Huq Munna, Khalid Hossain, Ahsan Habib, Ragib Ahsan, Ashok Karmaker,
Hironmoy Chanda, Shuvashish Majumdar, Abhijit Chowdhury, Najib Tareq, Rafi
Haque, Uttam Sen, Mominuddin Khaled, Alokesh Ghosh and others have designed
some good covers. Shishir Bhattacharjee has also created some good covers. Farida
Zaman showed excellence in illustration of children’s books. As a student, she
illustrated Bonmoroger Basa. Naima Haque is another significant illustration artist.
Maksudur Rahman has evidenced his excellence in the illustration and cover design
of magazines. The arrival of two cover artists in the 90s was an important event in the
world of book illustration of Bangladesh. They are Samar Majumdar and Dhrubo Esh.
Samar Majumdar is a busy and famous illustrator of contemporary times. He is
spontaneous in each of the media of collage, photography, computer graphics and
drawing. His most memorable work is the cover of Shawkat Ali’s Prodoshe
Prakritojon and Akhtaruzzaman Elias’ Chilekothar Sepai. Samar Majumdar had more
success in illustration of essays and novels (fig. 4.16). He has amazed us many times
with innovations in subject and presentation.
The most famous contemporary book cover designer is Dhrubo Esh. He acheived
success at a very early age and did a great number of work (pl. 4.17). In the last one
decade he has designed the covers of a significant quantity of books standing around
4000 in terms of numbers. He has the rare quality of recreating himself. Possibly for