FT ONLINE

The northern district town of Nilphamari is buzzing with art and artists, in the run-up to the Jatiyo Rabindra Sangeet Sammelan that is set to take place in the town at the end of this week.

A delegation of 16 fine arts students, under the guidance of Md Harun-ar-Rashid Tutul, assistant professor of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, arrived in the town on March 1 to paint the roadside walls and give the city a new look for the event.

Cultural activities have also seen a major shake-up in the quiet town, where Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor on Saturday distributed prizes among winners of an art competition of primary school students. Out of total 524 competitors from primary schools of municipality and rural areas, 88 were awarded story books, autobiographies, rhymes, stories of Liberation War and so on.

The prize-winning children were also made a part of the wall-painting activities of the visiting artists of Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University. Decoration on roadside walls stretching from District Collectorate building up to the Jatiyo Rabindra Sangeet Sammelan venue has already been completed.

A large number of distinguished guests from home and abroad are scheduled to attend the ceremony.

Local organisation Vision 2021, supported by the Cultural Affair minister who is also local lawmaker, arranged the art competition for the primary school students.