The 14-day long 'Sultan Mela' in remember of 98th birth anniversary of world renowned artist SM Sultan will be start at the Sultan Mancha on the premises of Narail Government Victoria College in Narail on Saturday afternoon.
Narail district administration and SM Sultan Foundation will jointly organise the fair.
Khulna Divisional Commissioner Zillur Rahman Chowdhury is expected to inaugurate the Sultan Mela. Narail Superintendent of Police Sadira Khatun, Zilla Parishad Chairman and District Awami League President Advocate Subas Chandra Bose, AL General Secretary and Narail Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Nizamuddin Khan Nilu, Narail Government Victoria College Principal Professor Md Rabiul Islam, Sultan Foundation General Secretary Ashikur Rahman Miku, Narail Municipality Mayor Anjuman Ara are expected to attend as special guests.Narail deputy commissioner (DC) and president of SM Sultan foundation Muhammad Habibur Rahman will be preside over the inaugural session. The fair will begin today and it will end on January 20.
The fair will feature art exhibition, art competition, rural games including Lathi Khela, bull fighting and folk music, Jari Gaan, Kobi Gaan, recitation, drama staging and discussions on Sultan life and works.
General Secretary of Sultan Foundation Ashikur Rahman Miku said all the work has already been completed to complete the fair in a splendid and festive environment. The fair will be attended by government officials, prominent people of civil society and a large number of visitors from far and wide, he added.
A total of 100 stalls with traditional textile and cottage industry products set up for sale on Sultan Mancha premises.
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.He joined the International conference of painters in America in 1950 as the representative of the then Pakistan government.
Sultan,a legendary artist of Bangladesh won Ekushey Padak in 1982,Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Award in 1986 and Swadhinata Padak in 1993.He was declared the Man of Asia in 1982 by Cambridge University and Bangladeh government declared him as resident of artist in 1984. Sultan died in Jashore combined Military Hospital on 10 October, 1994.