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.[by whom?] Islam is the pioneer of modern architecture in Bangladesh and the father of Bangali modernism.[2] 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.
His most important work was born when the Governor's Conference of Pakistan decided in 1959, under the leadership of President Ayub Khan, that Dhaka will be second capital of Pakistan.[6] The government decided to build a capital complex at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Muzharul Islam was given to design Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban[by whom?] (National Assembly Building of Bangladesh). But, he brought his teacher Louis Kahn[by whom?] into the project to do a significant work for future generation. Islam worked closely with him from 1965 to Kahn's death in 1973[by whom?].
Along with Kahn[by whom?], he also brought Paul Rudolph and Stanley Tigerman to work in Bangladesh, and three of them came to be known as the American Trio. Apart from the Trio, it was Islam's monumental style that dominated Bangladesh architecture from the 1950s onwards.[6]
A documentary film on Mazharul Islam named Tini (The Architect) was released by Institute of Architects Bangladesh in 2000, which was directed by Enamul Karim Nirjhar.
Daily Bhorer Kagoj, Dhaka, 24 December 1993, Page-9.
Daily Bhorer Kagoj, Dhaka, 7 March 1994, Page-12.
Weekly Holiday, Dhaka, 31 December 1993, Page-6.
Daily Star, Dhaka, August 2000.
Exhibition, "An Architecture of Independence: The Making of Modern South Asia," on the Works of Four Architects of the Indian Sub-Continent; New York, Philadelphia, 1997, Curated by Kazi Khaleed Ashraf and James Bellurado.
Exhibition of Architecture in Bangladesh, “Pundranagar” to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar (350 B.C. to present time), 1997. Edited by Raziul Ahsan, Kazi Khaleed Ashraf and Saif Ul Haque.
An Architecture of Independence : The Making of Modern South Asia, 1997, University of Pennsylvania, Edited by Kazi Khaleed Ashraf and James Belluardo.
The India International Centre Quarterly: Monsoon 1997, Volume- 24, Number 2–3.
Architect Muzharul Islam and Chicago Architect Stanly Tigerman did the elaborate study on typology and tectonics, ecology, climate and materials. Their study resulted in a major report, which was featured in the September 1968 issue of “Architectural Record".
Vastukatha: Selected Sayings of Architect Muzharul Islam | বাস্তুকথা: স্থপতি মাজহারুল ইসলামের নির্বাচিত উক্তি, Edited by Kazi Khaleed Ashraf and Saif Ul Haque, Published by BI Books -Bengal Publications [11]
Muzharul Islam Architect, Edited by Fuad H Mallick, Zainab Faruqui Ali[12]
"Symbol for what? Symbol of what? Symbol of whom?... The hesitation in my mind has deep roots. I feel that human society has been kept in darkness for thousands of years by the use of symbols. I revolt against it. By raising the issue of symbols, in the name of symbols, my perspective has been kept limited."
"Cities should provide the environment for civilized life within the context of our own culture... The city can develop only as a part of the physical environment of the country- with the ultimate aim of abolishing all differences between the city and the rural areas. The traditional relationship with nature (still existing to a certain extent in the village of Bangladesh) should be continued in the cities."
"The artistic qualities are essence of architecture. The practical aspects of architecture are measurable – such as, the practical requirements, climatic judgements, the advantages and limitations of the site etc. – but the humanistic aspects are not measurable. This depends on the talent, sensitivity and creativity of the architect. Only some bookish knowledge is not a sufficient tool in this regard. One has to be creative. One has to love his own land, its people and its culture and think profoundly about these. The love of one's own land is the eternal source of creative power, which in turn, makes a proper architect."
"You have to be a world man and a Bengali. It's impossible otherwise... When I mention standing on one's own soil... it is to find oneself, but not to find oneself and become stagnant. What I am seeking is to stand on one's own feet and then to proceed forward. If for that reason I have to take two steps backward to go one step forward. I have no problem with that. I think that there is no other way of moving forward."
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