Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) celebrated the 103rd birth anniversary of internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi painter S M Sultan in his hometown of Narail on Monday, bringing together artists, children and cultural practitioners.
The day-long programme was held at the S M Sultan Memorial Collection, Shishu Swarga and the District Shilpakala Academy.
More than 300 children and adolescents participated in various activities, alongside 20 local artists.
The celebration featured an art camp, a children’s painting festival and exhibition, the inaugural ‘Sultan Sammanana Padak’, a discussion on Sultan’s artistic philosophy and a cultural performance.
Sultan remains renowned for his powerful depictions of peasants, labourers and rural communities.
His engagement with ordinary people, rural life and agricultural civilisation established a distinctive place for him in Bangladesh’s modern art history.
Speaking at the event, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury described Sultan as an exceptional artist whose influence and recognition extended beyond Narail and Bangladesh.
He stressed the importance of creating opportunities for children in rural areas to develop their artistic talents.
“If children from small schools and rural areas are encouraged and given opportunities in painting, they will engage in art alongside their studies and other forms of creative practice,” he said, adding that such opportunities would help strengthen their intellectual abilities and confidence.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General and poet Rezauddin Stalin described Sultan as one of Bangladesh’s most human-centred and life-oriented artists and “the greatest artist of agricultural civilisation”.
He also highlighted Sultan’s commitment to children through Shishu Swarga and expressed hope that the children growing up there would become accomplished artists while carrying forward his artistic spirit.
As part of this year’s celebration, contemporary artist, researcher, writer, academic and internationally acclaimed printmaker Prof Dr Md Abdus Sattar received the inaugural ‘Sultan Sammanana Padak 2026’.
The award recognised his long and distinguished artistic career, creativity and contribution to Bangladesh’s art scene.
Sultan’s engagement with society was further explored through a discussion titled ‘S M Sultan: An Artist Close to Life and Social Reality’. Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Arts Professor and artist Reza Asad Al Huda Anupam delivered the keynote discussion, focusing on Sultan’s deep connection with everyday life and social realities.
The children’s painting festival and exhibition served as another tribute to Sultan’s enduring commitment to children and art.
With more than 300 young participants, the event created an intergenerational connection with the artist’s creative legacy.
The celebration concluded with a cultural performance, bringing together visual art, discussion and performance to honour one of Bangladesh’s most distinctive artistic voices.
