Many artworks by prominent national artists were looted in August 2024 from the personal collections of numerous Awami League leaders, alongside from institutions such as the Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32. In addition to widespread looting, several artworks were also destroyed in the public unrest following the July uprising. The official residence of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and the houses of influential Awami League figures such as former minister Nasrul Hamid Bipu, Shahriar Alam, Anisul Huq, and Salman F Rahman, housed large collections of artworks. More than a year after the looting, there is still no information on the recovery of any of these works. No complaints or GDs have been filed with law enforcement agencies regarding these incidents. Moreover, the state has taken no initiative to recover these rare artworks. It is worth noting that in the neighboring country, Nepal, the Interim Government led by Sushila Karki formed a judicial committee to investigate sabotage, destruction, and looting of public and private property during the September 2025 anti-government protests.
According to various sources, the artworks looted from the personal collections of Awami League leaders include pieces by renowned artists such as Quamrul Hassan, SM Sultan, Mohammad Kibria, Qayyum Chowdhury, Rafiqun Nabi, Shahid Kabir, and Shahabuddin Ahmed. Another source indicated that the list also includes works by Rashid Chowdhury, Murtaja Baseer, and Kanak Chapa Chakma. Beyond these, reports suggest artworks by many other artists were also lost. Many have called for urgent initiatives to recover these works, considering them national assets, regardless of whether they were looted from institutions or private collections.
Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5, 2024, during the student-led uprising, leaving the Prime Minister’s post. News of her departure quickly drew thousands of people to Ganabhaban. At that time, in addition to various other items, numerous valuable artworks were lost from Ganabhaban. Simultaneously, the houses of Awami League leaders across the country came under attack by enraged masses. Among the properties affected was the Gulshan diplomatic area residence of Salman F Rahman, a prominent figure during the AL government. As the destruction unfolded there, valuable art and artworks were taken away by affluent neighbors in the vicinity.
Salman F Rahman’s residence had long housed an extensive collection of artworks. Reports indicate that some of the artworks were valued in the millions of BDT. However, none of these remain today.
A long-time caretaker of Salman F Rahman’s residence, speaking to Bonik Barta on condition of anonymity, said, “On the day of the incident, that is, the afternoon of August 5, hundreds of people started approaching the house. They first broke the glass doors at the gate. Later, two individuals arrived on a motorcycle and set fire to the vehicles inside. Many entered the house and carried out vandalism. After the attack, several wealthy people from the surrounding area also came to the house. Various artworks, paintings, and sculptures made of foreign stones hung on the walls were mainly taken by the affluent. Some of them even bought these items on the street from ‘hawkers’ for BDT 100–500. Most of those who looted the house came from nearby residences.”
Visual artist and philanthropist Nazia Andaleeb Preema told Bonik Barta, “During the July movement, we saw the kind of collections that many wealthy people had in their homes. Then we saw that artworks were looted from those houses. We saw who took them. But where they went, that nobody knows.”
Expressing frustration over social and institutional negligence regarding the protection and dignity of art, Nazia Andaleeb added, “When discussing with legal experts, they admit that if a rare artwork is looted, lost, or trafficked, there is no clear provision for what action to take. Copyright protection is lacking, and counterfeit items are widespread in the market. We still haven’t fully understood that art is one of the most important carriers of the state’s culture.”
The artist further said, “One of the main reasons for the severe decline and fragility in Bangladesh’s social structure is neglect of the arts. This disregard has caused damage across the country’s leadership and the sociopolitical reality.”
Attempts to contact Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Gulshan division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tarek Mahmud regarding the recovery of artworks stolen from Salman F Rahman’s house did not yield any statement.
Among the artworks looted in August 2024 were pieces by prominent artists such as Quamrul Hassan, SM Sultan, Mohammad Kibria, Qayyum Chowdhury, Rafiqun Nabi, Shahid Kabir, and Shahabuddin Ahmed.
Quamrul Hassan, known as “Potua Quamrul Hassan,” achieved recognition for blending folk and modern styles in his paintings. His works depict the overall life of rural Bengali society, the natural landscapes of Bengal, the oppression of authoritarian rulers, the Bangladesh Liberation War, and the mass killings by the Pakistani forces. His paintings in the 1960s inspired the Bengali nationalist movement, anti-military rule protests, and the 1971 liberation struggle. For his extraordinary contributions to art, Quamrul Hassan received numerous awards and honors.
SM Sultan is hailed as Bangladesh’s world-renowned painter. The discussions about Sheikh Muhammed Sultan and the recognition his works have received both domestically and internationally are rare for any artist in the subcontinent. Critics unanimously describe Sultan as an extraordinary person and an exceptional artist. While many artists achieve legendary status posthumously, Sultan attained it during his lifetime. Becoming such a historic figure in the art world is almost unprecedented, at least in this subcontinent.
Notably, at an event in August, Adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Mostofa Sarwar Farooki announced an initiative to recover SM Sultan’s lost paintings. He said, “Many of SM Sultan’s artworks, taken for exhibitions both at home and abroad, have been lost. These works will be recovered and exhibited.” He called for cooperation from everyone regarding this effort. He made these remarks on August 10 during the inauguration ceremony of SM Sultan’s centenary, organized by the Charupith Art Research Institute at the Lecture Theatre of the University of Dhaka, where he delivered the keynote address as the Chief Guest.
Artist Mohammad Kibria adopted abstract painting as his medium for expressing personal emotions. He made invaluable contributions to painting and printmaking. In 1959, he received a scholarship to study at the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music in Japan, where he pursued higher studies in painting and graphics. Mohammad Kibria is considered one of the pioneers of the abstract movement in Bangladeshi art. Although many artists had explored abstraction earlier, he made the style widely acceptable.
Qayyum Chowdhury is regarded as one of Bangladesh’s great masters and remains immensely popular. A distinguished cover artist, he painted throughout his life and is considered one of the country’s most socially conscious artists. In 2001, he was awarded the Gold Medal by the Sultan Foundation and received the Ekushey Padak in 1986 for his exceptional contributions to art.
Rafiqun Nabi, a renowned Bangladeshi painter, cartoonist, and educator, is popularly known as “Ronobi.” His cartoon character “Tokai” has earned acclaim beyond Bangladesh on the international stage. He has been honored with the Ekushey Padak.
Artist Shahid Kabir was influenced by the spiritual philosophy of Lalon Sai in the 1970s, a reflection that appeared in his artwork of the time. His works mirrored the social realities of Bangladesh—the lives of people, their suffering. After completing his studies at the then Art College in 1973, Kabir began teaching there. His first exhibition was held in the early 1970s at the Desh Art Gallery in Gulshan. In the 1980s, he went to Spain for higher studies, marking a new chapter in his artistic journey.
Artist Shahabuddin Ahmed has secured a distinguished place for his works focusing on the Liberation War. Based in Paris, he enjoys global recognition. His canvases express the emotions and portraits of struggling people. Through the interplay of colors and brushes, he has created in a distinctive style. He has been awarded the Independence Award for his contribution to art and received France’s highest civilian honor, the Knight title. In 1992, during the Barcelona Olympics, a publication featuring the works of 50 master artists of the contemporary world included him. Shahabuddin Ahmed was also honored with the “Olympiad of Art” award.
Immediately after news spread of Sheikh Hasina’s flight, public anger erupted at the Prime Minister’s Office and residence, Ganabhaban. On the day of the incident, people were seen carrying away various aesthetic items and artworks. Numerous videos circulated on social media also show members of the upper class taking items from Ganabhaban. Some individuals were identified through these videos and criticized, while others later returned the items to law enforcement authorities.
Emphasizing the need to recover artworks looted from state institutions, Dr. Tawohidul Haque, Associate Professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka (DU), and an expert in society and crime, told Bonik Barta, “State institutions house images of important and historic locations and moments. These images are not merely for beautifying a room or space. They display authentic moments reflecting history, heritage, society, and cultural contexts. On August 5 last year, some people even posted images of the loot on their social media. The question is, these artworks are state property. Seizing, stealing, or destroying state property is clearly a violation of the law. Our existing laws also provide for punishment against those responsible. In this context, law enforcement should actively investigate to recover the stolen state assets, materials, and artworks and hold those involved accountable. But we have seen that neither the government nor the law enforcement agencies have undertaken any institutional initiative or investigation in this regard.”
Alongside various items, several artworks were also looted from Ganabhaban. Later, some items were returned, but no artworks have been recovered, according to Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner Md Ibne Mizan. He told Bonik Barta that although some of the missing items were recovered at the time, no artworks were found, and there were no specific complaints regarding the missing artworks.
Meanwhile, several artists’ works were also housed at the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmondi, but there is no trace of them either.
Art experts say that artworks that have been destroyed or stolen cannot be recreated. Failing to recover these invaluable cultural assets would constitute an irreparable loss. There is also concern that these works could be secretly trafficked or sold privately at high prices.
Expressing astonishment at the state’s inaction in recovering the looted artworks, Wakil Ahmed, an artist and Director of Kala Kendra, told Bonik Barta, “We cannot say whether any legal action has been taken regarding the collections looted from government or private sources. We know nothing about it. We are also unaware of any initiative from the government. I have not heard of any statement on this matter from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The reality is that we see no initiative at the government level. This lack of action seems astonishing to me.”
Regarding the absence of initiatives to recover the looted artworks, Lala Rukh Selim, Professor of the Department of Sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, told Bonik Barta, “Is anything really happening in the cultural sphere? It does not seem so. The result of this lack of awareness is evident. There is no evaluation, no attention given. In many cases, it seems as if it would be better if these works did not exist. That is, a mindset has developed where it is considered better if these artworks are absent. I do not think this is an isolated or separate issue. Rather, it is part of the reality of our overall system or structure. Though it sounds very bleak, this has now become a reality.”
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam told Bonik Barta, “I am not aware of the theft of rare artworks. Right now, we are focused on ensuring the upcoming national election is conducted smoothly. After the election, we will address the issues related to these artworks.”
When asked regarding government initiatives to recover the looted artworks, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs could not provide any immediate information.