Samiran Chowdhury, a leading figure in Bangladesh’s visual arts scene, has died, leaving a lasting legacy in art education. The founder of the Narayanganj Institute of Fine Arts passed away on Saturday afternoon, January 3, at a hospital in Dhaka. He was 62.
Samiran’s death has drawn widespread grief from artists, students and cultural organisers across Bangladesh. Cultural activist Rafiur Rabbi said the family brought Samiran’s body to the Narayanganj Institute of Fine Arts. The family planned his last rites to take place later at the Masdair crematorium in Narayanganj.
Born on November 20, 1962, in Ulukandi village of Araihazar upazila, Samiran showed an early interest in art. He passed his SSC examination in 1979 from Narayanganj Bar Academy before joining Dhaka’s Institute of Fine Arts. After the institute joined the University of Dhaka, he completed his BFA in 1985 and his Master’s degree in 1987.
During his student years, Samiran earned a prestigious award for excellence in watercolour painting.
Watercolour remained central to his artistic practice throughout a career that spanned several decades. He exhibited widely and collectors and museums across multiple continents acquired his works spanning from the US, the UK, Japan, Germany, France among other countries.
Beyond exhibitions, the late artist devoted himself to strengthening cultural life outside the capital. In 1994, he founded the Narayanganj Institute of Fine Arts through sustained personal commitment and effort. The institution became a vital centre for art education and mentoring young artists beyond Dhaka.
Through his vision, Samiran helped decentralise cultural practice and expand Bangladesh’s artistic landscape.
