Zainul Festival 2016 starts at DU

Zainul Festival 2016 started on the premises of Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), University of Dhaka (DU) on December 29. Jahanara Abedin, widow of Shilparchaya Zainul Abedin; Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Vice Chancellor of DU; Professor Nisar Husain, dean of FFA; artist Hashem Khan and Indian painter Jogen Chowdhury were present during the inauguration. After the inauguration this year's Zainul Shommanona or the annual honourary awards named after Zainul were handed over to Hashem Khan and Jogen Chowdhury. Then a book titled "Zainul Shototbarsha Probhondabali" was launched. A sculpture of the famed Zainul by Tarak Gorai was unveiled by the Shilpacharya's proud widow Jahanara Abedin. In the afternoon artistes of Shanta-Marium University of Creative Technology arranged a cultural programme at the venue.
Hashem Khan recalled after receiving his award that he was a student of second year of FFA in 1958 when Zainul first announced the launching of an annual art festival. Jogen on his part noted that Zainul is one of the few ones who have synthesised traditional feels with modern arts, something that is indeed worthy of learning.