Sultan Mela begins in Narail

The Sultan Foundation organised the programmes which include painting exhibition, wrestling, Lathi Khela (mock fight with sticks), bicycle race, drawing, volley ball and ha-do-do competitions.

Hundreds of people assembled here to enjoy the fair and cultural functions held on the first and the second day yesterday, said Iqbal Hossain, a member of th Foundation.

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Although the fair is organised on August 10 every year in observance of Sultan's birth anniversary, this year it was shifted to December due to natural calamities, the organisers said.

Besides, discussions on Sultan's life and works and cultural functions will be held everyday on the makeshift Sultan Manch, they said.

Forest and Environment Minister Tariqul Islam inaugurated the fair while State Minister for Water Resource Gautam Chakrabarti was the special guest. Narail Deputy Commissioner Nuruddin Ahmed presided over the inaugural function.

SM Sultan was born in Narail in 1924. He earned fame home and abroad for paintings, put on display in different countries.

Sultan took part in the International Conference of Painters as representative of the then Pakistan, held in USA in 1950. He was conferred the title of 'Man of Asia' in 1982 by Cambridge University. In 1984, Sultan was awarded the Independence Day Medal. He died on Oct 10 in 1994.