The 101st birth anniversary of the world-renowned artist SM Sultan was observed with due respect and ceremony in Narail today.

The commemorative programme featured several events including Quran khwani at Sultan’s graveyard, wreath-laying ceremonies, and a doa mahfil held at the Sultan Complex to pay tribute to the iconic artist.

Sharmin Akhter Jahan, Deputy Commissioner and President of the SM Sultan Foundation, attended as the chief guest.

Other notable attendees included:

• Julia Shukyna, Deputy Director of Local Government
• Lincoln Biswas, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General)
• Md Rostom Ali, District Information Officer
• Advocate Iqbal Hossain Sikder, former member secretary of the Foundation
• Sultan Mahmood, Vice-President of Narail Press Club
• Mahbubur Rashid Lablu, General Secretary of Narail Press Club
• Tandra Mukherjee, Curator of the Sultan Complex
• Along with other dignitaries and guests

Born on 10 August 1924 in the Masumdia area of Narail town into a poor family, SM Sultan went on to become a legendary Bangladeshi artist celebrated worldwide.

His artworks were exhibited internationally early in his career:

• Simla (1946)
• Lahore and Karachi (1948–49)
• New York, Boston, London, and the University of Michigan (1959)
• Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (1976)

In 1950, he represented the then Pakistan government at the International Conference of Painters held in America.

Throughout his distinguished career, Sultan received numerous prestigious awards, including:

• Ekushey Padak (1982)
• Bangladesh Charushilpi Sangsad Award (1986)
• Swadhinata Padak (1993)

In 1982, Cambridge University honoured him with the title “Man of Asia,” and the Bangladesh government named him a resident artist in 1984.

SM Sultan passed away on 10 October 1994 at Jashore Combined Military Hospital. He was laid to rest in the yard of his home in the Masumdia-Kurigram area of Narail Municipality