[1] With the leadership of Zainul Abedin, the eminent artists Anwarul Huq, Quamrul Hasan, Khawaja Shafique Ahmed, Safiuddin Ahmed and Habibur Rahman started the Government Institute of Arts and Crafts in DNMI Hospital building at Johnson Road in Dhaka.

At the moment of its beginning there were six teachers along with Zainul Abedin as the principal and eighteen students.

After the institute was established, within a few years, however, it became quite apparent that what was started only as a training centre had assumed a far greater role, for it quickly became a meeting place for all aspiring artists and a forum from which a new art movement could be launched.

The West played a formative influence in sharpening their sensibilities, but their firm root protected them from losing their sense of direction and becoming mere imitators of western art.

This ability to balance and blend the very best elements of local and foreign art has been a strong point for Bangladeshi artists.

The training provided to its students gave them the freedom to develop their own talents in keeping with their dominant inclinations.

His scheme was also climate-responsive and had large continuous verandahs shading the inner walls and windows of the classrooms and studios.

One enters into the front pavilion, a wonderful structure that houses galleries on the ground floor and teachers and common rooms, etc.

This ground and the whole structure itself transform to host many activities namely the Bengali New Year ‘Pohela Boishakh’ and numerous art classes and competitions for children.

Students of FFA now have options to work part-time (at media houses and ad firms) and the commercial aspect of BFA and MFA degrees from the institute now seems favourable, opportunities the previous generations did not enjoy.