Nitun Kundu

Here is a revised and enriched memorial biography for Nitun Kundu, based strictly on verifiable sources:

Nitya Gopal Kundu (3 December 1935 – 15 September 2006), widely known as Nitun Kundu, was a celebrated Bangladeshi painter, sculptor, designer, and entrepreneur from Dinajpur district, then part of Bengal Presidency in British India – now Bangladesh (en.wikipedia.org).

Kundu completed his art education at Dhaka Art College (now the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka) in 1959, graduating first class first (archive.thedailystar.net). During the pre‑liberation years, he served as a designer at the United States Information Service (USIS) in Dhaka, where he crafted visual displays and exhibitions up until March 1971 (dbfcollection.com).

With the onset of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Kundu joined the Information and Publicity Department of the provisional government in exile at Mujibnagar, collaborating with artists such as Quamrul Hassan. He designed several influential posters, including “Sada Jagrata Banglar Muktibahini” (Ever Awake Bangladesh Freedom Fighters) and “Banglar Hindu, Banglar Bauddha, Banglar Christian, Banglar Musalman – Amra Shobai Bangali” (Bengali Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims – We All Are Bengalis) (en.wikipedia.org).

After independence, Kundu created one of his most enduring works, the sculpture "Shabash Bangladesh" at Rajshahi University—a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Mukti Bahini freedom fighters (en.wikipedia.org). He also contributed several prominent public artworks, such as the SAARC Fountain at Karwan Bazar and a fountain in front of the Dhaka High Court, as well as the “Sampan” sculpture at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong (en.wikipedia.org).

In 1975, after a brief stint with the advertising agency Bitopi, Kundu founded the furniture design firm Otobi, beginning in a modest workshop in Shukrabad and later operating under the name “Art in Craft.” The company rapidly grew to become a leading Bangladeshi furniture brand, celebrated for integrating creative design with industrial production (otobi.com).

Throughout his career, Kundu designed a range of national trophies and awards, including the National Film Award, President’s Gold Cup, Notun Kuri Award, Asia Cricket Cup Trophy, and even the Ekushey Padak medal itself (otobi.com). In recognition of his remarkable contributions to art and culture, he was honored with the Ekushey Padak in 1997 (en.wikipedia.org).

Nitun Kundu passed away on 15 September 2006 in Dhaka, after suffering complications from a heart attack. His passing was mourned across the nation; he was accorded a state funeral attended by artists, students, and public figures from all walks of life (archive.thedailystar.net).

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This updated biography preserves all verified dates, places, and key contributions—reflecting Kundu’s multifaceted legacy as an artist, entrepreneur, and cultural icon of Bangladesh.