Each year in December, the gallery authority organizes an anniversary programme that includes a discussion on the life and work of Zainul, as well as a painting competition.

[3] While a student at the local Mrityunjay ("Triumph Over Death") School, he won the first prize in The Bombay Chronicle art competition.

[3] In the 1950s, Abedin began a movement of collecting neglected pieces of Bangladeshi arts works that were scattered all over rural areas of the country.

The artist remained attached to his hometown, prompting the establishment of a museum in Mymensingh on 15 April 1975 in a building owned by a Mr. Barden who later sold it to a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council.

[5] The gallery opened with approximately 70 pieces of art that included oil paintings and drawings by Abedin during his tours abroad.

There are also 69 mementos on display such as brushes, brush holder, bottles of turpentine and linseed oil, carbon box, charcoal, wax, colour palette, colour tube, easel, ink pot, leather portrait holder, metal clip, reed pen, scraper, spatula, and his spectacles.