Ali Ahsan Nishan, a resident of Naogaon, has become a part of Bangladesh's history by designing the logo of Dhaka Metro Rail, the first electric trains the country.
Apart from the metro rail logo, he also designed the other signs at the metro rail stations.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the metro rail service in the capital amid fervour and festivity on Wednesday. She opened the operation of the first phase of the project – from Uttara to Agargaon.
The latest addition to Dhaka's public transport started its first journey with passengers at 8am on Thursday.
Nishan, hailing from the Dhamkuri area of Naogaon municipality, is the son of the late Abdul Quddus, who was a war-wounded freedom fighter. Quddus worked as a supervisor of the locomotive workshop (engine hall factory) of Bangladesh Railway in Saidpur.
Ali Ahsan Nishan, who graduated from the graphic design department of Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts, told Dhaka Tribune he represented the entire nation of Bangladesh in the metro logo.
“There is a rising red sun. Then down below there is the green of Bengal. Red and green are the symbols of Bangladesh. Besides, the letter 'M' of the metro is also placed in such a way that it seems like a platform.
“If you look at the rail in the logo for a while, it seems that the train is not standing still, it is moving. The running train indicates the progress of Bangladesh,” he said.
“The development speed of Bangladesh can be seen by looking at the logo. Usually logos are motionless in nature. In general, there is also a kind of balance in its use of colour in the logo, so as to attract people's eyes. But in this logo it was not kept intentionally. It has been designed in such a way that it has a kind of motion.”
Nishan also said it took about six months to complete the entire work.
“I was very excited when I got the opportunity to design the logo in May. I have done logos for many companies, but I never enjoyed it like this time,” he said.
The joy of being a part of Bangladesh's history is certainly unique, added Nishan.
