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Published : 29 Dec 2025, 01:55 AM
The birth anniversary celebration of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin at the Faculty of Fine Art of Dhaka University has been scaled down.
It will be observed with a daylong celebration this year, instead of the usual three-day-long events. There will be no “Zainul fair” or reception granted every year to artists.
Faculty of Fine Arts Dean Azharul Islam Sheikh cited a lack of preparation due to the university’s closure as the reason for not being able to hold the fair.
He also confirmed that there will be no reception of distinguished artists this year as well.
A teacher at the Faculty of Fine Arts, seeking anonymity, said initially they had a plan to hold the fair but had to leave it considering the present “political instability”.
“Zainul Fair” has been an important part of the birth anniversary celebration programme since 2009.
The birth anniversary this year will be held on Monday. The programme will start by placing a wreath at the artist’s grave at 10am, followed by an exhibition of artworks by the faculty members at 11am. A commemorative lecture is scheduled at 12pm.
In past years, folk artists from parts of the country participated in Zainul’s birth anniversary programme, showcasing and selling their creations. But this year the celebration will miss them.
Zainul is a pioneer of the modern art movement in Bangladesh. He was awarded the title of ‘Shilpacharya’ during his lifetime for his contributions to the arts.
Zainul demonstrated that painting can be the medium of any protest, a tool of resistance, or a language to demand rights, equality, and freedom.
Born on Dec 29, 1914, in Mymensingh, Zainul passed away from lung cancer on May 28, 1976.
