To observe the 19th death anniversary of Professor Golam Samdani Koraishi, a litterateur and researcher, art and recitation competitions were held at Mymensingh Udhichi auditorium on Octo-ber 8. Golam Samdani Koraishi Smriti Parishad organised the programme.

Around 100 students from nursery to class ten of different educational institutions took part in the competition in three groups. The subjects of the painting competition were 'Butterfly', 'Water Lily and 'Scenes of Autumn'.

Of the contestants, 18 were selected for prizes for the two competitions.

Rokon Pathan, Dulal Chandra Gain, Taposh Majumder and Paritosh Majumder were the judges for painting competition while Professor Nazrul Hayat, Amjad Dulon and Swapon Dhar were the judges for

recitation competition.

Coordinator of the celebra-tion committee Swadhin Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech. Among others Professor Nazrul Hayat

and Yeazdam Koraishi Kajal spoke at the inaugural session of the competition.

The speakers at the opening session said that Samdani, a Fellow of Bangla Academy was

a progressive personality and his active participation in all progressive movements will long be remembered. They also said that Samdani, a pioneer of cultural movements in greater Mymensingh, was also a very successful translator of several rare Arabicworks.

Samdani also worked with Dr. Mohammad Shahidullah, an internationally renowned educationist, writer and philologist at the Bangla Academy on Bangla Bhashar Avidhan, they asserted, going on to add that the younger generation should be acquainted with Samdani's stellar contribution.

Marking the occasion, a discussion on the life and work of Samdani will be held at the same venue on October 11. Professor Ashrafuzzaman Selim, Principal Reazul Islam, Professor Amir Ahmed Chowdhury Ratan and Swapon Dhar will be the discussants with Mohammad Momtaz Uddin, convener of Golam Samdani Koraishi Smriti Parishad in the chair.