Mastercraftspersons Award handed at Bengal Shilpalaya

National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB) and Bengal Foundation jointly organised an award ceremony and a five-day fair to promote crafts that appear to be disappearing in Bangladesh.

The arrangement has been dedicated to the birth centenary of master painter Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin. This year four Nakshikantha artistes received crafts awards as Shilpacharya fondly nourished our folk art, especially Nakshikantha.  

On April 10, the event was jointly inaugurated at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts by Jahanara Abedin, wife of Shilpacharya and noted litterateur Selina Hossain.

Director General of Bengal Foundation, Luva Nahid Choudhury and NCCB president Chandra Shekhar Saha spoke at the inaugural ceremony.

Nakshikantha artistes Khadija Begum, Kadbanu, Mamtaj Begum and Gulnahar Begum were honoured with a crest and Taka 50,000.

A five-day crafts fair has also been organised, to continue till Pohela Boishakh (April 14). Eleven stalls have different items to offer, from Nakshikantha to metal craft.

The fair also displays other stalls including shola, pottery, mats, brass utensils, hand-made fans, conch flute and showpiece and many more.