A meeting of the IAB Gold Medal Assessment Board was held on December 12, 2020 at IAB Center. The Board meeting was chaired by Ar. Prof. Shamsul Wares and was attended by Ar. Prof. Haroon Ur Rashid, Ar. Prof. Abu Sayeed M. Ahmed (via zoom), Prof. Syed Manzoorul Islam (via zoom) and Ar. Jalal Ahmed, President of IAB. This year, three IAB Fellows have been nominated for the IAB Gold medal 2020.

The meeting reviewed and discussed all the three nominations. After detail discussions and consideration of architectural styles, contribution in the field of architecture of Bangladesh, experience etc., the Board unanimously recommended late Architect Bashirul Haq for the IAB Gold Medal 2020.

Ar. Bashirul Haq completed his Bachelor of Architecture from the National College of Arts, in Lahore, Pakistan in 1964. He received John Heinrich Tuition, Scholarship and Teaching Assistantship at University of New Mexico, United States in 1971 and completed his masters in architecture from the same university in 1975. He was shortlisted for Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1980, 1992 and 2001. According to Haq, the works of Alvar Aalto and Aldo Rossi inspired him most.

Ar. Bashirul Haq’s work has been consistently contextual in using the material, responding to climate, articulating spaces, economy, political, social, and cultural intent. His work bears an unmistakable mark of Bengali identity and purpose. In his 45 years of professional career in Bashirul Haq and Associates, he has designed more than 300 buildings, in which Bhatshala House, Kalindi Apartments, Chayanaut Bhaban, ASA Head Office Building are notable.

Architecture in Bangladesh has become richer from Ar. Bashirul Haq’s work and has positioned it on a high pedestal. His works and thoughts have inspired many architects and would continue to do so in the future as well.