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TRIBUTE TO A MASTER PAINTER

Weeklong Sultan Mela-2012 begins in Narail

Ponuel S Bose, Narail
The weeklong Sultan Mela-2012, marking the 87th birth anniversary of noted artist SM Sultan, began at Sultan Moncho premises in Narail on December 9. Jointly organised by the SM Sultan Foundation and the district administration, the fair is sponsored by Grameen Phone and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
The programme includes an art competition, exhibition, discussion attended by eminent artists and renowned personalities of the country, announcement and handing over of the Sultan Medal, bull fight, horse race, jari gaan, kobi gaan, lathi khela, wrestling, recitation, theatre, cycling and traditional games such as ha-du-du and cultural functions every night.
The mela was inaugurated by Md. Moshiur Rahman, Divisional Commissioner of Khulna. Also present at the inaugural programme as special guests were Mezbah Uddin, DIG Police of Khulna Range; Advocate Subhash Chandra Bose; Administrator, Narail Zilla Parishad, Sharif Humayun Kabir; Chairman, Narail Sadar Upazila, Md. Julfikar Ali; Chairman, Narail Municipality, S.M. Fazlur Rahman; Police Superintendent, Ashikur Rahman Miku; secretary of Sultan Fair organising committee, Mahi Ahmed and Territory Officer, Grameen Phone, Md. Zohirul Haque. Deputy Commissioner of Narail presided over the inaugural programme.
A cultural programme was held at the same venue.
On January 14, Mizarul Kayes, secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be chief guest at the fair and hand over the 'Sultan Padak' to artist Monirul Islam.
On the concluding day, lanuary 15, Suraiya Begum, NDC, Secretary, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, will be chief guest at the fair.
Sultan Mancho premises and Shishu Swarga of Masimdia village are wearing a festive look. There are about 50 colourful stalls with fascinating goods at the mela along with a ferns wheel for the amusement of children. The mela, organised by the district administration and Sultan Foundation, has been a fixture for about two decades.
Md. Zohirul Haque, DC of Narail and President of Sultan Foundation told The Daily Star that the fair this year is a class apart. He added that 33 cultural organisations will perform at musical soirees at Sultan Mancha throughout the fair.
Md. Rofiqul Islam, OC, Narail, said that tight security was in place at the fair, while a mobile team was making regular rounds throughout the fair.
The fair is a fitting tribute to the legendary artist SM Sultan. Sultan's
paintings have been exhibited alongside masters such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, George Braque and Paul Klee. He was awarded with an Ekushey Padak (1982) for his outstanding contribution to the cultural movement and Independence Award (1993) by the Bangladesh Government. According to art critics, Sultan was perhaps the most enigmatic painter of contemporary Bangladesh. He died on Octo-herin 1994