A graduate of the art college in Dhaka, Hamidur Rahman (1928-1988) received extensive training in Europe and in the US. He executed many public commissions but is most remembered for his great contribution in the design of the Central Shaheed Minar– the memorial for the martyrs of the of the 1952 Language Movement. He received the Ekushey Padak in 1980. A painter, writer and teacher, Hamidur Rahman spent the last days of his life in Canada.

The Hamidur Rahman Smrity Puraskar is offered by painter Hamidur Rahman’s family every two years to an outstanding Bangladeshi artist. The award is nominated by a special committee of artists and members of Hamidur Rahman’s family. The award is managed by Bengal Foundation.

In 2011, the award was given to eminent painter Syed Jahangir.
The event was held at Bengal Shilpalaya on February 14, 2011.