Many indigenous people who fled from their homes remained out in the open in deep forest after the army crackdown on the rebels. An eerie calm engulfed the areas after martial law was proclaimed on July 19, 1855. The Rajmahal hills were drenched with blood and all Santal villages were razed. The captured santals were made railway construction labour in chains. In 1856, the Santal leaders were captured and executed and the rebellion subsided.
We pay a tribute to the Santal martyrs who died a heroic death for the establishment of their rights. They fought with revolutionary zeal to flush out the intruders and their local agents. According to newspaper reports politicians and lawyers observed Santal revolution day on June 28, demanding constitutional recognition and separate land commission for the ethnic minorities.
The state must ensure establishment of the rights of the indigenous people. Bangladesh Adivasi Adhikar Andolon organised a day-long program in observance of the 155th anniversary of the Santal revolution. The program ended with a cultural function.
Corals,Clear blue water and the several endangered species of turtles that nest on the island become a major tourist attraction. Every years St. Martin Island visitor population has increased dramatically. Bangladesh is really proud of it’s Island and could earn millions of dollars every year if it well promotes at the same time be concern about its natural conservation and protection.
St. Martin Island, November 2010. Exciting live corals at Chera Dwip. Copy Right: Monirul Alam
A few days ago I visited to St. Martin Island with my family members. They are really enjoy its beauty and said, “It’s a paradise for us, if we are not to come here we really missed it’s beauty I like it’s non stop roaring said my sister-in-law Mimi,a mother of Pritha and Adiba.
My mother is happy to see its beauty and I think this Island is good for her health. St. Martin Island is one of the best place in Bangladesh, especially in winter time. The dumbbell-shaped island has area of only about 8 sq. km which reduces to about 5 sq. km. during the high tide. Three smaller islands- Zinjira, Galachira and Cheradia are located just the south of the main island.
I think every tourist amazed to see its beauty each and every moment except a few minutes high tide on the Sea Trucks ride, During my visit I observed a number of foreign and local visitors enjoying their holiday. A rocky platform surrounds this island and extends into the sea,but the sand is excellent almost all the way around and is ideal for sunbathing.Its fascinating to see so many different types of fish drying in the sun on endless bamboo racks along the beach. In the morning you will walk up to view a Sun rising over the mountain’s of Myanmar while you see the Sun down on the Sea and you took a beautiful picture in front of corals.The people there are very friendly but concern about your important wealth.
St. Martin Island November 2010. The Sea fish is available at St. Martine Island. Copy Right: Monirul Alam
Zahid and Nila a newly married couple 1st time visit at St. Martine Island and enjoy their honeymoon. They said, “We really enjoy its beauty with our pleasure specially we like Chera Dwip causes its silent mode and crystal clear blue water with corals and sea food”.
St. Martin’s Island is a small island in the northeast part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf surrounded by water, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is the only coral island in Bangladesh. It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar at the mouth of the Naf river. The surrounding coral rock’s of the island has an extension named Chera Dwip. If you not to go Chera Dwip I think you miss half of it’s beauty.
St. Martin Island, November 2010. A beautiful light fall on the corals at sea beach of St.Martine Island. Copy Right: Monirul Alam
Local officials see a certain risk in Saint Martin’s success with tourists, with some people hunting turtles and breaking off corals to sell to visitors. The island exists only because of its coral base, so removal of that coral risks erosion of the beaches. St. Martins has lost roughly 27% of its coral reef in the past 14 years. From Teknaf, ferries run daily to Saint Martin. It takes around 2.30 hours to reach the island, and most tourists visit the island from November to March.
Dhaka November 2010. Bangladeshi madras orphanage students using rickshaw van to collecting sacrifice animals tanned hide at old Dhaka. Bangladeshi Muslims celebrating the Eid-Ul-Azha the annual Islamic holiday is marked by the ritual sacrifice after morning prayers of sheep,goats,cows and other livestock whose meat is then shared with the poor.Copy Right:Monirul Alam
Dhaka city is now like turning human sea home bound people madly rush on the bus,train and launch station for celebrating country’s second biggest religious festival Eid-Ul-Azha. Number of cattle market occupied on the main road traffic system is already collapse but people not to stop just moving and moving. I think they are determined to go to their village and celebrate Eid with their loved ones.
Tongi Station. November 2010. Hundreds of homebound passenger crowd the roofs of train risking their lives to meet their kins and share the joy of Eid festivity.Copy Right:Monirul Alam
We just wait at Tongi rail station to take photos for our news coverage. I look around on the station number of people is waiting for train. The commuter train will be come from Dhaka station and go to other district. I see a few of garments worker just sitting on the station, I talked with them, Salma Begum said, The train was supposed to be here at 4.30 pm, now it’s 6.20 pm but not to arrive we just waiting hour and hour’s but we are happy to go to my house, like Salma thousand of train passengers waited for long time.
When the train is arrive on the station I just look, it is already full of passenger inside and roof of the train while I see Salma just left her shoes and thrown the train roofs and than she climbs up on the train roofs, I think it is risking journey for her but Salma is smiling me and say good bye bhaiya Eid Mubarak. I took many pictures of Salma and her friends. Within a few minutes the train is left from the station at the same time I leave on the station and started my motor bike to returning my office news editor have been waiting for my picture . . .
On the way of my office long time I standing near the Mintu road with my motorbike causes huge traffic jam. A bas contractor insisting me-ride your motorbike on the footpath and safe your time. He said, bhai footpath re upper deya jan, boya takle shomoy nosto hoibo. I think as a responsible person I don’t go the wrong way . . .
Dhaka. Human Train Copy Right:Monirul Alam
Within a few minute’s I see most of the motorbike rider- ride their motorbike on the footpath- like parent with his kids,security forces,Journalist and many more. After while a contractor smiling for me, and said how foolish you are !
In the day time all street are occupied and gridlock by the bus,private car, rickshaw street hacker. Political parties and other organization doing their regular activities on the busy street without concern law and other people’s right.
Dhaka city people are now crazy. If your could closely observe than you see within a minute more incident is happening even that each other beat of them for funny things, every day of their daily chats.
Lawlessness, respecting each other and dignity is gradually lost form the people’s life. It is establish that We lost our believe. We all are busy and mad crazy going faster and faster- but the result in ZERO.
On that days I also covering an assignment at Faculty of Fine Arts ( Charukola Dhaka University) An eminent Japanese sculptor SETSU SUZUKI for his exhibition opening. He said, my first visit I see huge number of people live in the dhaka city. He also said my HUMAN TOWER installation is more relevant for the Bangladeshi people. I think as a foreign artiest within a short time to read our society.
North Part of Bangladesh,Kurigram.2005. Living on the Char is not very comfortable- children walk on the river side. Monga or seasonal food insecurity is not a new phenomenon in Bangladesh. Seasonal food insecurity in ecologically vulnerable and economically weak part of north-western Bangladesh.Copy Right:Monirul Alam
These week I attend Philip lecture, Philip Blenkinsop is a renowned photographer and founding member of NOOR Photo Agency. Noor is an International Photo Agency which work worldwide. Noor’s Photographer share concerns, and accept the challenge of expressing these concerns in a language capable of renewing itself,respect the human dignity of their subjects. They are documentary photographers aware of the major changes facing traditional media in favor of an always-bigger diffusion of the new media said their manifesto.
Dhaka, October 2010. Philip delivered his valuable lecture at Drik. Copy Right:Monirul Alam
I like his lecture and nice presentation- to learn more about latest concept of documentary photography.His thought about the photojournalism is really appreciative. To me I met Philipe he is a nice and friendly person. He came to Bangladesh, secound time for his own project.
I thanks to Pathshala Alumni to conduct this lecture session specially thanks to Munem Wasif. He takes an good initiative to explore our photographic arena.
Climate change touches already every corner of the world and every aspect of people’s lives. As the global temperature increases, its impacts will become even more extreme. The impact of climate change world is already facing food and fuel crises. World Bank and IMF have sounded a larger alarm push 100 million people in low-income countries deeper into poverty. Bangladeshi is a country that stands to be one of the first to suffer from global climate change, and the time to act is now.
Patukhali south part of Bangladesh, October 2010. Mujibor and Khaled stand on the launch deck who left their houses away to Dhaka city for searching job.Copy Right:Monirul Alam
The IPCC warns of devastating floods, drought, extreme weather, hunger, and disease across the world in decades to come.
Bangladesh faces all of that already, and climate change will accelerate it. Once a byword for backwardness, Bangladesh is now a glimpse of everyone’s future.
Patuakhali,South Part of Bangladesh,October 2010. Fisher man catching fish the Padma river at night time. Hilsha fish is very much popular in Bangladesh and India. Copy Right:Monirul Alam
Thus, indigenous peoples have become the most marginalized and vulnerable group in the country of Bangladesh in its thirty eight years of independence. There is no constitutional recognition of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh the issue of the identity of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh has led to much debate and controversy, and on occasions has brought indigenous leaders and government officials into sharp disagreement.
Dinajpure, Bangladesh November-2009. A KORA tribe older women named sajoti KORA - Copyright Monirul Alam
They are only referred to as “backward segments of the population”.
My project is a visual and narrative documentation of this Indigenous people express their daily life and their traditional and cultural condition in the society.
I am using photography not only as a means of evidence, but also a link for the imagination.
MONIRUL ALAM 