A Zainul Charukala Utshab marking the 103rd birth anniversary of legendary artist Zainul Abedin was organised by Charukala Barisal at Ashwini Kumar Hall of the city on Friday. The daylong programme included a painting competition, discussion, exhibitions of paintings, folk art and crafts and a cultural function.

Artist Syed Enayet Hossain was honoured with Zainul Sanmanona and a reception.

Barisal Education Board chairman Professor Zianul Huq inaugurated the programe and Habibur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Barisal was chief guest at the concluding session.

A large turnout of people at the programme opined that Zainul was well known for his leadership in organising artists and art activities in pre-independent Bangladesh that had practically no recent history of institutional or professional art.

It was through the efforts of Zainul Abedin and a few of his contemporaries that modern art took shape in Bangladesh in the span of a decade.

For his artistic and visionary qualities, the title of Shilpacharya was justifiably bestowed on him, they added.

Artist Syed Enayet Hossain, who was honoured with the Zainul Sanmanona at the festival, hails from Sujabad under greater Barisal.

Born in Karimganj of Mymensingh in 1938, he was encouraged in the arts and crafts by his mother and elder brother. After completing secondary education in Barisal, Hossain became a student of Zainul and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Institute of Fine Arts in 1965.