New public artwork in East London to mark 50th anniversary of Bangladesh
As part of ongoing commemorations of 50 years of Bangladesh independence, a new giant sculpture, titled BANGLA has been unveiled at Idea Store Whitechapel in East London. The illuminated installation was created by Tower Hamlets Council, Ruhul Abdin (Bangladesh-based artist) and the National Portrait Gallery. It is covered in fabric and suspended in the Idea Store facade, where it will remain until early 2022. Cllr Sabina Akhtar was Cabinet Member for Culture at the launch. She stated that "The Bangladesh War of Independence was an important moment for thousands of East Enders, even though none of its battles took place here." As war was looming back home, the British Bengali community protested and lobbied for the struggle for independence at the beginning of the 1970s. This creative art installation and exhibition at Idea Store Whitechapel will highlight this important aspect of our history. Ruhul Abdin collaborated with British Bengali Citizen Researchers in order to exami