A striking new sculpture titled The Industrial Tree has been unveiled on Sunday at the entrance of the Comilla Economic Zone (CEZ) of Meghna Group of Industries, symbolizing permanence, growth, and the human effort behind industry.
Designed by Ekushey Padak-winning sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan, the installation presents an evocative interpretation of industry as a living organism, where machines, steel, and labour connect like the roots and branches of a tree.
The work marks one of the final artistic endeavours of Khan’s six-decade career. Commissioned by MGI, the sculpture was conceived for a functioning industrial zone an unusual setting that blends large-scale production with artistic expression. Khan accepted the commission on a single condition: that the form would be a tree, a timeless symbol of endurance.
Work on the sculpture began in 2024, with Khan preparing the maquette, selecting materials, and approving the site layout. However, before the piece could be completed, he passed away on July 20, 2025, leaving behind a partially realised structure.
In a rare move, MGI chose not to alter or reassign the project. Instead, the company approached Khan’s wife, painter Ivy Zaman who had been closely involved throughout the process to complete the sculpture. She agreed, maintaining that the original concept would remain her husband’s, while the final execution would be her own.
The resulting structure stands as a collaborative work that bridges life and legacy. Over several months, Ivy Zaman refined the surface, patina, and canopy, bringing the sculpture to completion while preserving Khan’s minimalist and geometric language.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ivy Zaman said she felt honoured to complete the work as a co-artist with her late husband.
“This is not just an installation. It is one of the last works of Professor Hamiduzzaman Khan and a joint creation. I am honoured to complete his vision,” she said, adding that despite his notable works at home and abroad including installations at Seoul Olympic Park she considers this among his greatest creations.
Tanveer Ahmed Mostafa, director of MGI, said the sculpture reflects a deliberate decision to integrate culture into an industrial setting.
“The Comilla Economic Zone carries forward a long tradition. It is a planned industrial area where local and international manufacturers share infrastructure and logistics. What makes it unique is the shared cultural commission at its entrance,” he said.
“From the start, we chose a sculpture instead of a monument or signboard. A tree is one of the oldest symbols of permanence, and an economic zone represents long-term commitment. The Industrial Tree brings industrial strength and cultural elegance into the same frame,” he added.
According to MGI, the sculpture’s form reflects continuity and resilience: a grounded base symbolizing stability, a vertical trunk representing strength and progress, and an open canopy completed by Ivy Zaman signifying growth and expansion.
Unlike conventional public art placed in civic or cultural spaces, The Industrial Tree stands at the gateway of an active industrial zone, where workers begin their daily routines. Its presence is intended to resonate with those who contribute directly to the country’s economic engine.
With more than five decades of operations, Meghna Group of Industries is among Bangladesh’s largest conglomerates, with interests spanning food, consumer goods, chemicals, energy, and logistics. Rooted in greater Comilla, the group’s industrial journey now finds symbolic expression in The Industrial Tree, a fusion of art, industry, and legacy.