The birth centenary of renowned artist SM Sultan was observed at his birth place in the district today.

The SM Sultan Foundation and district administration jointly organised several programmes to mark the birth centenary.

The programmes included Quran Khawani, placing wreaths at his grave, seeking eternal peace of his departed soul, and doa mahfil.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Arafat Hossain, Additional Superintendent of Police Tarek Al Mehdi, Ansar VDP District Adjutant Bikash Chandra Biswas, S M Sultan Sangrahashala Curator Tandra Mukherjee, among others, were present.

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.

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 in 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. BSS