NARAIL, August 10, 2021 (BSS)- The 97th birth anniversary of renowned artist SM Sultan was observed at his birth place in Narail this morning maintaining social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The SM Sultan foundation and District Administration jointly organised several programmes to mark the day.

The  programmes included Quran Khawani and Doa- mahfil, remembrance meeting, placing wreaths at the famous artist’s grave and seeking eternal peace of his departed soul.

Deputy Commissioner of Narail Muhammad Habibur Rahman addressed the remembrance meeting as the chief guest while Police Super Prabir Kumar Roy, District Council Chairman Advocate Sohrab Hossain Biswas, Narail Municipality Mayor Anjuman Ara, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Fakhrul Hasan, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sadia Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police Tanzila Siddique, Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Riazul Islam were present as special guests.
 
President   of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote   Malay Kundu, its General Secretary (GS) Sharful Alam Litu, Narail Press Club President Enamul Kabir Tuku, its GS Shamimul Islam Tulu, former vice-president Sultan Mahmood, Sultan Art College’s Principal Anadi Bairagi were present, among others, on the occassion.

The legendary artist Sultan’s artworks were shown in Simla of India in 1946, in Lahore and Karachi in 1948-49 and paintings were exhibited in New York, Boston, London and Michigan University in 1959, long before his exhibition at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1976.

He joined the International conference of painters in America in 1950 as the representative of the then Pakistan government.
 
SM Sultan won Ekushey Padak in 1982, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Award in 1986 and Swadhinata Padak in 1993.

He was entitled the “Man of Asia” in 1982 by Cambridge University and the Bangladesh government declared him “A resident of artist” in 1984.

The famous artist was born to a poor family at Masumdia area in Narail town on August 10, 1924. ]

He died in Jashore Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on October 10, 1994. He was buried at the yard of his own house in Masumdia-Kurigram area of Narail Municipality.