NARAIL, Jan 12, 2013 (BSS)- The eight-day ‘Sultan Mela’ commemorating 88th birth anniversary of world renowned artist SM Sultan will be started in front of Sultan Mancha at the Narail Government Victoria College premises in Narail tomorrow afternoon.
The SM Sultan Foundation and the district administration have organized the mela to mark the birth anniversary of the famous artist. The mela will be ended on January 20.
All preparations were completed for successful holding of Sultan mela, said Narail deputy commissioner (DC) Mohammad Jahurul Haque, who is also president of SM Sultan Foundation.
The state minister for Labor and Employment Begum Mannujan Sufian is expected to attend the inauguration ceremony as chief guest. Narail deputy commissioner (DC) and president of SM Sultan Foundation Mohammad Jahurul Haque will preside over the program..
On January 19, the 7th day of the mela, rural development and co-operative secretary Mihir Kanti Majumder is expected to attend as chief guest and on January 20, at the concluding session state minister for youth and sports Ahad Ali Sarker is expected to attend as chief guest while Kabirul Haque Mukti, MP,Bangladesh Handball Federation’s senior vice-president Kazi Mahtab Uddin and director of Bengal Gallery of Fine Art Subir Chowdhury will be present as special guests.
Professor of Charukala Institution at Dhaka University Artist Hamiduzzaman Khan will receive ‘Sultan Padak’ this year at the closing ceremony.
A series of colorful events such as placing floral wreath at Sultan’s portrait, art competition and exhibition, kabaddi, wrestling, volley ball competition, Ha-du-du, Jarigan and Kabigan, seminar on Sultan’s life and works and cultural programs will take place as part of the mela at Sultan Mancha and in other places of the town.
A total of 100 stalls with traditional textile and cottage industry products up for sale.
Artist Sultan was born at Masumdia village under Narail sadar upazila of a poor family on 10 August, 1924.
His artworks were shown in Simla of India in 1946 and in Lahore and Karachi in 1948-49 and paintings were exhibited in New York, Boston, London and Michigan University in 1959.
Sultan, a legendary artist of Bangladesh won Ekushey Padak in 1982, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Award in 1986 and Swadhinata Padak in 1993. Cambridge University declared him the Man of Asia in 1982 and Bangladesh government declared him as resident artist in 1984.
Sultan died in Jessore combined Military Hospital on 10 October, 1994.
