Photo: Rupon Das, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Zainul Abedin Museum
About Zainul Abedin Museum
Zainul Abedin (1914 to 1976) grew up in Mymensingh and is honoured in Bangladesh as Shilpacharya, the great teacher of art. His drawings of the Bengal famine of 1943 made his name, and he went on to found the art college in Dhaka that shaped generations of Bangladeshi painters.
The museum, officially the Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Sangrahashala, opened in 1975 in a park on the bank of the Old Brahmaputra. Since 1999 it has been a branch of the Bangladesh National Museum. The collection includes more than 50 of his oil paintings, replicas of other works, photographs and personal belongings such as his brushes, easel and spectacles.
Outside, the riverside park is where Mymensingh comes to walk in the evening, and small boats cross the river. The Brahmaputra and the people who live along it appear again and again in Abedin’s work, so the setting is part of the visit.
Evergreen Bangladesh Tours visits the museum on private Mymensingh tours with Shashi Lodge; see Mymensingh Division for more of the region.
Things to do
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See Abedin’s paintings
Look at his oil paintings and replicas of his best-known works, from river scenes to rural life.
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Walk by the Old Brahmaputra
Join local families on the riverside path in the late afternoon, when the light softens over the water.
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Cross the river by boat
Take a short ride on one of the small country boats that cross the Brahmaputra here.
Getting there
In Mymensingh: the museum is by the river near the city centre, a short rickshaw ride from Shashi Lodge.
From Dhaka: about three to four hours by car, or around three hours by intercity train to Mymensingh.
Where to stay
Stay in Mymensingh city, which has the best choice of hotels in the division.
We suggest hotels that fit your budget when we send your tour price.
More to see in Mymensingh
Tours that visit Zainul Abedin Museum
None of our set tours stop here yet, but we can add it to a tailor-made trip.
Questions
Who was Zainul Abedin?
Zainul Abedin (1914 to 1976) was a Bangladeshi painter, honoured as Shilpacharya, best known for his drawings of the 1943 Bengal famine and for founding the art college in Dhaka.
Where is the Zainul Abedin Museum?
In a park on the bank of the Old Brahmaputra in Mymensingh city, about 120 kilometres north of Dhaka.
What can I see in the Zainul Abedin Museum?
Oil paintings and replicas of his work, photographs and personal items such as his brushes, easel and spectacles.
How long do I need at the Zainul Abedin Museum?
About an hour inside, plus time for a walk along the river outside.