The 103rd birth anniversary of world-renowned painter SM Sultan was celebrated in Narail on Monday (August 10) through day-long events.
The programs were organized by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at the SM Sultan Memorial Complex, Shishu Swarga, and the District Shilpakala Academy.
The day-long celebrations included an art camp featuring 20 local artists, an art festival and exhibition with over 300 children and teenagers at Shishu Swarga, the presentation of the "Sultan Award of Honor," a discussion on SM Sultan's life and artistic contributions, and a cultural performance.
Minister for Cultural Affairs Nitai Roy Chowdhury MP attended the event as the chief guest. Special guests included Member of Parliament for Narail-1 Biswas Jahangir Alam MP, Member of Parliament for Narail-2 Md. Ataur Rahman MP, and Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Kaniz Maula.
Among others present were the Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Poet Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed Stalin, and Narail Additional Superintendent of Police Noor-e-Alam Siddique. The discussion was presided over by District Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Abdul Salam, who also serves as the President of the SM Sultan Memorial Complex and District Shilpakala Academy. Abdul Halim Chanchal, Director of the Fine Arts Department at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, delivered the welcome address, while the Academy's Secretary Mohammad Zakir Hossain expressed the vote of thanks.
The keynote speaker for the discussion, titled "SM Sultan: An Artist of Life and Social Realism," was Professor Reza Asad Al Huda Anupam from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University.
Speaking as the chief guest, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury remarked that SM Sultan is not just an artist of Narail or the Padma basin, but a unique painter belonging to the whole of Bangladesh and the world.
He noted that the "Sultan Award of Honor" was introduced this year and highlighted that school-based artistic events will receive greater focus in the future. Following SM Sultan’s vision, opportunities need to be created to encourage school children and rural youth in fine arts. The Minister added that along with academic studies, involvement in art fosters intellectual development and confidence among children and teenagers.
Poet Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, stated that SM Sultan remains one of the most human-centric and life-rooted artists in Bangladesh, possessing a unique ability to portray agricultural civilization. He described Sultan as the pride of Narail, greater Jessore, Bangladesh, and the world, expressing hope that future master artists will emerge from the youth nurtured at Shishu Swarga.
This year, artist, researcher, writer, and academic Professor Dr. Md. Abdus Sattar was presented with the Sultan Award of Honor 2026 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to contemporary Bangladeshi art practice. Dr. Sattar, an internationally acclaimed printmaker, received the accolade for his long, illustrious artistic dedication and creative endeavors.
The day-long celebration concluded with a captivating cultural program following the discussion and award ceremony.
