Narail:The 32nd death anniversary of celebrated Bangladeshi artist SM Sultan is being commemorated in his hometown, Narail, with a series of events.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the district administration organized the events at the Sultan Memorial Museum. The commemoration began at 9 am, with participation from various organizations including the SM Sultan Bengal Institute of Fine Arts, SM Sultan Foundation, and Narail Press Club, among others. These groups paid their respects by placing wreaths at Sultan's grave.
The observance included Quran recitation, special prayers, an art competition for children and adolescents, a discussion meeting, and a prize distribution ceremony. SM Sultan, born on August 10, 1924, in Machimdia village of Narail, passed away in the Combined Military Hospital in Jashore on October 10, 1994.
Sultan was honored with the Ekushey Padak in 1982 and the Independence Award in 1993 for his contributions to the arts. He was also recognized as a resident artist in 1984 and received accolades from the Bangladesh Charushilpi Sangsad in 1986. Internationally, he was named 'Man of the Year' by Cambridge University, 'Man of Achievement' by the Biographical Centre in New York, and 'Man of Asia' by Asiaweek magazine.
Since 2001, the SM Sultan Foundation has awarded the Sultan Gold Medal to artists who have made significant contributions to fine arts.