An Artist’s Meditative Take on the Textile Crisis
On 10th October, Bengal Shilpalay’s Quamrul Hassan Hall made room for Yasmin Jahan Nupur’s solo exhibition to breathe in silence. Silence that carries the weight of unspoken resistance, forged over decades. Each corner is equipped with different kinds of soft sculptures and artworks, woven and drawn with bare hands. These sculptures will urge you to zoom in, squint, and at times, resist touching and feeling their texture. The space is surrounded by a variety of installations, including tapestry, jamdani woven in a grid-like matrix, a golden net made of zari threads, Bangla phrases stitched in muslin fabric, and hand-drawn textures and patterns. The sculptures, made from gentle materials like thread and wool, celebrate their natural malleability and softness. Her meticulously executed works on paper using only pen and watercolor draw viewers into their quiet depths. In contrast, Nupur’s brass sculptures defy expectation, transforming rigid metal into forms that appear almost supple. As one takes a closer look, they can find the artist’s sheer brilliance of witty and powerful juxtaposition of delicate threads and robust objects. One of the guests at the opening, globally famous architect Marina Tabassum, who won Aga Khan Award twice, reflected on the powerful presence of silence—describing it as an equally vital element in architecture, a space everyone strives to reach, yet few truly achieve in the process of creation. She observed that Nupur’s works embody that very quality, carrying a quiet strength despite being crafted from simple materials like strand and wool. The softness of Nupur’s sculptures and the intricacies of her work, in fact, carry a more concrete and unsettling truth—illuminating the fading textile legacy of Bengal. Behind these delicate forms lie the stories of countless artisans unable to continue their craft, disrupted not only by economic pressures but also by colonial legacies and ecological changes. A powerful installation in the exhibition was a dazzling hanging burqa. While the traditional burqa symbolizes modesty and concealment, Nupur reimagined it as a three-dimensional form embroidered with gold and silver zari threads—not as a symbol of elegance, but as a testament to distressed endurance. Nupur’s professor, Abul Monsur, recalls how her gentle demeanor during her time at the Fine Arts Institute, CU, fooled him into perceiving her as rather fragile. Her quiet resilience and unwavering devotion to her craft beneath that delicate surface only proved him wrong over time. Yasmin Jahan Nupur not only hails a heavy portfolio of glorious works but also became a household name in the international galleries. This second solo exhibition is Nupur’s careful documentation and a commitment to preserving the vanishing heritage of Bangladesh’s textiles. As visitors walk through the gallery, they are compelled to stop, gaze, and ultimately begin to unravel the silences behind each piece. “Even though the voice may be muted or just a soft whisper (mridu shor), the visitors must take the time to truly listen,” quotes curator Tanzim Wahab. “Unravelling Silence” is on view until November 22, every day from 4 to 8 PM, except Sundays, at Bengal Shilpalay. Written by- Fariha Hossain
Industry Leaders Unite for a Greener Bangladesh
A Call for Sustainable Transformation On January 30, 2025, the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka hosted “Shaping Bangladesh: Designing Tomorrow, Building Today”, a landmark event organised by Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine. It brought together leaders from construction, real estate, and ceramics to champion sustainability and innovation in response to environmental challenges. Thought Leadership for a Greener Future As part of the series “Innovating for a Sustainable Future II”, the multi-panel format featured experts from ceramics, cement, and real estate. Moderated by Dr. Amir Ahmed of Daffodil International University, the panels included Muhammad Badrul Hassan (BBS Cables), Salehin Musfique Sadaf (GPH Ispat), Architect Faysal Ahmed (Concord Real Estate), AKM Ziaul Islam (Magna Ceramic), Mohammad Khorshed Alam (Akij Bashir Group), Asadul Haque Sufyani (Metro Cement), and Babor Hossain (Khadim Ceramics). Key Recommendations for Sustainability Panelists urged greater investment in R&D to reduce reliance on imports and foster local innovation. They called for collaboration across sectors to promote recycled materials and eco-friendly components. Suggestions included using fly ash and slag in cement, adopting hybrid or electric furnaces, and implementing energy-efficient manufacturing. Smart Materials and Policy Reform Experts advocated for smart glass technologies—low-E, solar, and self-cleaning—to boost building efficiency. They also recommended policy reforms to protect local manufacturers from zero-tariff imports and emphasized the need for government-run clay mines to secure raw materials for ceramic production. Bangladesh’s Tile Industry Comes of Age AKM Ziaul Islam highlighted the tile industry’s evolution since 1984. “We started with 100 mm tiles in one color. Now, we export to the USA,” he said. Despite high production costs, innovation has improved working conditions and sustainability, making the industry globally competitive. Real Estate and Domestic Innovation Architect Faysal Ahmed reflected on the sector’s overreliance on imports between 2000 and 2015. He stressed the importance of collaboration among architects, engineers, and academics to develop sustainable materials locally and reduce dependency on foreign technologies. Material Optimization for Environmental Impact Salehin Musfique Sadaf emphasized that optimized material use can reduce emissions and speed up construction. “Using 15,000 kg of cement instead of 20,000 kg without compromising strength means real sustainability,” he explained. Rethinking Cement and Energy Asadul Haque Sufyani discussed the carbon footprint of cement production and promoted fly ash and slag as eco-friendly alternatives. He stressed the need for affordable, sustainable materials and energy-efficient technologies. Energy Crisis and the Future of Glass Mohammad Khorshed Alam raised concerns about gas shortages affecting glass furnaces. He urged investment in hybrid furnaces and advanced technologies and called on architects to incorporate more locally produced glass to avoid overcapacity and unsold stock. Ceramic Bricks: A Smarter, Greener Choice Babor Hossain showcased ceramic bricks’ advantages over handmade red bricks—lower water absorption, higher strength, and reduced structural load. “They were used in national landmarks and can cut construction costs by 13 percent,” he said, advocating for government-run clay mines to sustain innovation. A Unified Path Forward The event concluded with a call for synergy among policymakers, industry, and academia. With rising climate risks and infrastructure demands, embracing innovation is not just strategic—it’s essential. Photo: Courtesy
Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine, ArchiConnect honour two-time Aga Khan Award winner Architect Marina Tabassum
Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine, a publication of the Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BCMEA), and ArchiConnect, a buildtech platform, honoured Architect Marina Tabassum on Saturday evening, November 8, 2025, Bangladesh’s only two-time winner of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture—one of the most prestigious awards in the world for architects. At the programme, held at the Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel, the globally acclaimed architect delivered a keynote speech titled “Between Erosion and Emergence”, highlighting different aspects of the projects that brought her international recognition. Before her keynote, Architect Jalal Ahmed, founder and CEO of ArchiConnect, explained why Marina Tabassum’s achievement should be celebrated and how significant it is. He said the Aga Khan Award for Architecture is considered the “Oscar for Architects,” and winning it twice is a phenomenal success for any architect in the world. Later, Marina presented details of her various projects worldwide. Bait Ur Rouf Mosque, completed in 2012 on the outskirts of Dhaka, was the project that earned her the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016. “Built with locally sourced brick and devoid of traditional Islamic iconography, it offers a contemplative space where worshippers are bathed in natural light,” she said at the event. “The structure is not just a place of prayer—it’s a refuge for a dense, underserved neighbourhood.” She also shed light on one of her most celebrated recent projects, Khudi Bari, a modular, lightweight shelter designed for ultra-low-income populations. The structure, made of bamboo and corrugated metal, can be assembled quickly and relocated as needed. Earlier, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, in a public congratulatory message, echoed this sentiment: “We fondly recall your first Aga Khan Award in 2016 for the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque in Dhaka, a milestone that celebrated the timeless values of spirituality, community, and simplicity in architecture.” “That recognition marked the rise of a Bangladeshi voice of global significance, and your latest achievement further strengthens that legacy.” In 2025, Khudi Bari earned Tabassum her second Aga Khan Award for Architecture, making her the only Bangladeshi architect to win the honour twice. That same year, she was commissioned to design the Serpentine Pavilion in London—an international recognition of her ability to merge local wisdom with global relevance. Later, at the day, an engaging panel discussion was organised on “Marina Tabassum and the Aga Khan Award Legacy”. The session was moderated by Architect Mahmudul Anwar Riyaad, principal designer and director of DWM4 Architects. Distinguished panelists included Architect Professor Fuad Hassan Mallick, dean of the School of Architecture and Design (SoAD) at BRAC University; Architect Professor Zainab Faruqui Ali, chairperson of the Department of Architecture at BRAC University; and Architect Nahas Ahmed Khalil, principal designer at ARC Architectural Consultants. The event concluded with closing remarks by Moynul Islam, president of BCMEA. “We always look forward to creative minds like architects and the brilliance of Architect Marina Tabassum deserves to be celebrated.” Following the panel discussion, mementos were presented to the distinguished panelists and to Architect Moushumi Ahmed, the gracious host of the evening. The honorees—Architect Marina Tabassum, Architect Jalal Ahmed, and Moynul Islam, President of BCMEA—received exquisite woodprint artworks created by renowned artist Professor Anisuzzaman Anis of the Department of Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka Written by CBM Desk
