One Hundred Minutes with Artist Biman Mullick

Siddique Mahmudur Rahman, FRAS

One of my philatelist friends, Mr. Serajul Karim Bashir, telephoned me a few months ago and informed me, ‘Some
factual mistakes have been located in the information of issuance of First Eight Postage Stamps of Bangladsh’. He
said Artist Biman Mullick, designer of first eight stamps of Bangladesh has raised an objection on the matter.
My friend also said, ‘You are the pioneer researcher on Bangladesh Philately and is working on this subject for over
a few decades and have published so many books and study papers on this, you are the only person to answer to all
these questions. I like to read, but can’t write. I don’t think my explanation will be proper, I might jeopardise the
matter even more. Its better you personally write to him.’
My friend gave me the facebook i.d. of Biman Mullick. I was not a very speedy person, so it took a few more days
to contact him. But in the meantime, what I did is, I searched for the article, where the erroneous information is
published and found it. I contacted the relevant person and arranged to correct the piece of document. Then I
contacted BIman Mullick and assured him that the necessary correction is made in the said document. And thus I
became close to this vetaran artist.
Artist Biman Mullick is the designer of first postage stamps of Banladesh. These stamps were published on 29 July
1971, simulteniously from London, England, Calcutta, India and Mujib Nagar. Bangladesh. His design has made
history among the world community during that time and played a vital role in focusing the role of Bangladesh as a
nationhood and its justified Libeartion War against Pakistan.

Plate 1: The draft designs of the first eight postage stamps of Bangladesh (Courtesy: Biman Mullick)

I think I should explain what was Mr. Biman Mullick’s complain. Let me say it in Biman Mullick’s own word: (well
originally he wrote it in Bangla language, and let me tell you in English)
“An article entitled “Stonehouse vs Faourite Stonehouse’ written by Sazzad Quadir in Dhaka’s local
newspaper have some confusing information. He wrote, ‘Designer Biman Mullick was introduced to Mr.
Stonehouse by Dr. Enamul Haque, President of Gonoshonghoti Samity’. But this information is
absulutely incorrect. Mr. Stonehouse knew me many years before. He introduced me with Justice Abu
Syeed Chowdhury, who is the Special Representative of the Mujib Nagar Government. Both of them
asked me to take up the entire project of issuance of postage stamps. I accepted their proposal with due
respect. I did not have any association with any person named Dr. Enamul Haq, till now.”
“Mr. Quadir wrote, ‘In June 1971 Biman Mullick designed the eight value stamps and gave those to Dr.
Huq, who handed over the designs to the Mujib Nagar Authirity.’ Needless to say, this information is
also not correct. I handed over the designs to Mr. Stonehouse in the presence of Justice Abu Sayeed
CHowdhury. Both of the approved the designs and arranged the designs to be sent to Mujib Nagar for
approval of the Prime Minister, Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed. The designs were taken to Mujib Nagar by Mr.
Donald Chesworth.”
I found out that actually it was not Mr. Sazzad Quadir’s fault. An article, named ‘Postal Administration of
Mujibnagar Government’ written by Mr. Istiaque Ahmed Khan was printed on June 2007 issue of the ‘Journal of the
Asiatic Society of Bangladesh’, which bore that wrong information. Most probably Mr. Quadir read the article and
got that information.
Plate 2: First eight stamps of Bangladesh and the First Day Covers issued from London (red), and Calcutta and MujibNagar (green)

Mr. Biman Mullick contacted Mr. Istiaque Ahmed Khan, by e-mail, who did not reply. Bescause he was very sick
and who died a few weeks later.
Before all these hazards, I wrote a study book Postal History of Bangladesh in 1988. In 1991, I submitted a study
papaer ‘Postage Stamps during the Liberation War of Bangladesh’ in the Bi-Annual Conference of the Bangladesh
Historical Society at Jahangirnagar University, the paper was published in Bangladesh Historical Studies, Vols. XV-
XVI, pp. 13-126. A Bangla book বাাংলাদেদের ডাকবযবস্থা (Bangladesher Dakbyabostha) was also published in
2008; in all these two books I elucidated this story correectly.

Plate 3:Biman Mullick (left) is showing the final design of the stamps to Justice Abu Syeed CHowdhury (centre) (vice chancellor of Dhaka
University), the then ambassador for Bangladesh abroad, and Mr. John Stonehouse, MP, the then PMG, British Post (right).
Plate 4. BIman Mullich is holding up the design of first eight stamps of Bangladesh at Trafalger Square, London, in a meeting held in favour of
Liberation War of Bangladesh.

I became very close with Biman Mullick after this incidence. We used to share many things through facev book.
On March 20, 2015, I read in the ‘Daily Prothom Alo’, a leading Bangla Newspaper, that Bangladesh Government is
going to felucitate some foreign people who assisted and supported the Liberation War of Bangladesh. I became
very happy to find the name of Mr. Biman Mullisk in the list of ‘Friends of Liberation War’. I sent an e-mail to
Biman immediately and informed him about this good news. He replied that he was NOT aware about the news. He
wanted to know about the source of the news and I sent him the link of the e-paper of Prothom Alo, and requested
him to meet me when he will be in Dhaka. Two days later Biman confirmed that his tour schedule is conformed and
gave me the number of the person, who will be his contact person in Dhaka.
I telephoned that person and came to know that Biman will be staying at Hotel Sonar Bangla (which is not very far
from my residence) and he will be coming on 24 th March. He askred me to meet him at the Hotel lobby.
I asked my friend Serajul Karim to join me. We went to Hotel Sonar Bangla reception in the afternoon and wanted
to know about BIman Mullick. I was told that, he has gone out with other entourage. The hotel-staff couldn’t tell
where he has gone. We came out of the hotel.
I presumed they might have gone to Bijoy Manch (Victory Memorial) at Suhrawardy Garden, nearby. So we stared
to walk towards that direction, which was not far from the hotel. While we were passing BIRDEM Hospital at the
intesection of Shahbagh Square, I rang the contact person of Biman Mullick, who informed me that Biman is
visiting Muktijudda Jadughar (Liberation War Memorial Museum) at Segun Bagicha, Dhaka, about half a kilometer
far from the place we were standing.
We rushed towards the Muktijudda Jadughar immediately.

Image 5: The author Siddique is presenting his books to artist Biman Mullik (left) and author Siddique is with artist Biman Mullik at his hotel
suite.

Finally I ran towards the Liberation War Museum. I saw it was really a mess out there! Lots of people, lots of
visitors, TV companies, reporters, camera-man and many more photographers, artists, all thronged there. How can I
find BIman Mallick? I went on enquiring. and walked around the house and then saw a man wearing light-colored
sleeve-less coat. MY intuition told me that, I have come to see this person.
I went ahead and said, ‘I am Siddique’. He enthusiastically grabbed my hand, as a long-lost brother! We talked for a
few minutes standing on the corridor. I presented him a few books that I wrote. He said to put my signature on those.
I do not remember exactly what I wrote on those books.

Some more people tried to meet him, take him to some other places. But I wanted to spend some more time with
him.Running to other direction, he told me to meet him in the evening of 26 March.
I went to his hotel room at around 9 p.m.

At the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, went to Biman Mullik's room. He invited me with a big smile. I took some gifts for
him. He became happy as a boy. Then we went on discussing about the story of eight stamps and some untold story
as well.

Immediately after the independence of Bangladesh, John Stonehouse asked BIman Mallik to design Bangladesh's
first banknote.
BIman planned to design notes of Tk. 1, Tk. 10 and Tk. 100 for Bangladesh.

Biman Mullik said, one of his friends from Calcutta, who quoted about news published in The Stateman, Calcutta,
on December 24, and said, 'Are you designing the banknotes for Bangladesh also? Then you will be rich overnight!’
The friend jokingly added the next sentence.

But Biman said he was not experienced in designing the bank note. While designing banknotes, some aesthetic, but
some technical aspects are to be noticed. Stonehause arranged the entry of Biman in Britain's famous Thomas de la
Rue Limited (TDRL), the famous security press, so that Biman could get an idea of designing the the banknotes.
From this TDRL, Britain's first postal stamp was printed in 1840, Indian stamps in 1854 and Pakistan stamp in 1948.

Biman Mullik said, ‘I included the face of the Tiger on one taka note, two mangoes on two taka note, boat on Padma
river on five taka and on Taka 10 I added Image of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I did not design one
hundred rupees.

Figure 6: Biman Mullick with the deaft designs of the first banknotes of Bangladesh. The news was published on 24 December 1971 in The
Statesman of Calcutta, India.

Eventually, Biman presentated the four designs to Stonehouse. But the notes have to be associated with various
technical designs. He liked the designs.

What Stonehouse did with the designs was not known. It was not even known whether it was presented to the
minisetrial cabinet at Dhaka or not. The whole thing was completely lost.

Biman Mullik said, 'My birthday on 17th December. That morning, Stonehouse said, Bangladesh is now a
independent country. I thought this news was my greatest gift on my birthday. My stamps became the first stamps of
an independent country.
Stonehouse said, "This event needs to be remembered. The eight stamps issued in July are to be overprinted with the
words ‘Bangladesh Liberated’.
I said, 'It is necessary to add the text into Bangla too.'
He said, Of course. You make it into Bangla. '
Two sentences came to mind, 'Mukta Bangladesh (মুক্ত বাাংলাদেে)' and 'LIberated Bangladesher Mukti'
(বাাংলাদেদের মুক্তক্ত)'. I said which one is better? He said, 'I do not understand Bangla, you decide.'

Biman Mallik said, 'The direct translation of the word 'Bangladesh LIberated ' is 'Mukta Bangladesh (মুক্ত
বাাংলাদেে)', but there is a lot more melody in the word ‘Bangladesher Mukti' (বাাংলাদেদের মুক্তক্ত)'
I had no confidence in my own language. So I rang Prof. Tarapada mukherjee, Head of the Department, University
of London and asked, 'If I use ‘Bangladesher Mukti' (বাাংলাদেদের মুক্তক্ত) for the English word ÔBangladesh
Liberated, will it be right?’
He said in a casual and indifferent tone, ’It’s OK.’
I wrote down the words in my hand and told Mr. Stonhause, ‘As the printer does not have a Bangla type, then before
printing on the postage stamp, make my writing well with the expert calligrapher. He simply said, 'Hm.'

Figure 7: Overprinted Bangladesh Liberated in Bangla and English on the three stampa od eight value stamps of Bangladesh. Since the remaining
five stamps are being sold in the world market without the approval of the government of Bangladesh,thesewere been declated illegal.

When the stamps were printed, I found that the draft text in my hand was attached on the postal stamp. This is a
remarkable history too!

Today, the government of Bangladesh has given honour to this unique history by conferring with such an honour
'Friend of Liberation War’ on BIman Mallick after long forty years. The history was preserved in the hearts of
hunders of stamp collectors and philatelists of our country for the last forty years. Tere was no written history during
all these long years of time, except my books, Bangladesh Stamps and Postal History and Postage Stamps and
Postal History during the LiberationWar of Bangladsh.

* Siddique Mahmudur Rahman is the pioneer researcher on Postal service, postage stamps, metal coins and paper currencies of
Bangladesh. He has 20 research books and a good number of papers publioshed in leadng research journals. He has total 72
books published.