Tag: Dhaka

Chobi Mela VI | International Festival of Photography

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Dhaka, Bangladesh. December 28 2010 - Festival director Shahidul Alam speaks a pre-event press conference at Drik Gallery.The Chobi Mela VI - International Festival of Photography will be held from 21 January to 3 February, 2011 in Dhaka Bangladesh. Copy Right:Monirul Alam

South Asian bigest evnt of the Chobi MelaVI – International Festival of Photography will be held from 21 January to 3 February, 2011 in Dhaka Bangladesh and will present the work of creative artists participating from 30 countries. Please see all details  . . .

A peacock mutates from a princely pet to a goddess blurring boundaries between reality and illusion reinventing the Panchatantra (Indian animal fables in prose and verse) for the 21st century. Festival theme photo from the "India Song" exhibition by Karen Knorr UK/Puerto Rico, Courtesy of Tasveer.Chobi Mela VI to Open a Portal to a Restive World of Dreams

 

“All that we value, that we strive to uphold, all that gives us strength, has been made of dreams”

Dhaka, Bangladesh. 28 December, 2010: The Chobi Mela VI – International Festival of Photography will be held from 21 January to 3 February, 2011 in Dhaka Bangladesh and will present the work of creative artists participating from 30 countries. The festival with its theme “Dreams” is designed to be a birthplace of ideas, and a crossover meeting point for many artists. It will open a portal to a mystical world of images showcasing new trends in photography and bringing to the fore issues of our troubled world.

The unique festival will be launched on the 21 January, 2011 at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Parallel exhibitions will be held at Alliance Francaise, The Asiatic Gallery of Fine Arts, The British Council, Drik Gallery, The Goethe-Institut and the Lichultala at Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University. In congruence with the exhibitions there will be 8 workshops, 2 portfolio reviews and a week-long discussions, seminars and lectures at Goethe-Institut Auditorium that will initiate debates and discussions on issues central to contemporary photographic practice.

 

 

The main attraction on the 22 January at Goethe-Institut will be a video conference with Dr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor, International Criminal Court. In this position, his mandate is to select and trigger investigations and prosecutions of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The first Chobi Mela festival (Dec.1999-January 2000) was launched by Drik and Pathshala South Asian Media Academy to fill the need for a forum for sharing work and ideas, a platform for debate that was missing on this side of the globe. This inaugural festival focused on ‘Differences’ in the world we live in and in a sense was prophetic. The twin towers disaster followed and buried beneath the rubble the freedoms that the world has since lost. “In a world ravaged by war, to turn to ‘Dreams’ after ‘Differences’, ‘Exclusion’, ‘Resistance’, ‘Boundaries’ and ‘Freedom’ is to return to what holds us together in the face of all our obstacles, the focus of all our longings. In a vastly unequal world, it is our insistence on justice and our ability to ride the waves, which still keeps us dreaming,” says Shahidul Alam, Festival Director and Managing Director of Drik. “I dream that Chobi Mela will play a role in re-writing the history of photography, and correcting the extremely Eurocentric version of history that is currently propagated.”

Dhaka, Bangladesh. December 28 2010 - Photographer's and media persons attend at a pre-event press conference at Drik Gallery. Copy Right:Monirul Alam

Many bodies of work that went on to become well known were first shown in Chobi Mela. Considered to be the most demographically inclusive photo festival and the resulting pollination has led to many exciting exchanges, and given rise to several new festivals in the region for which Chobi Mela has been the catalyst.

Ensuring the general public’s access is an important part of the festival and admission for the festival is free. Mobile exhibitions on rickshaw vans are now a trademark of the Chobi Mela festivals. The festival provides an opportunity not only to enjoy the outstanding work of national and international photographers but also raises important social issues critical to our existence.

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Chobi Mela Site
Chobi Mela Blog

For more information please contact Chobi Mela Secretariat

Media Manager:
Qamruzzaman:
Tel: +8801911224884

Liason and Communication:
Chulie de Silva:
Tel: +8801927122141

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Coil Factory Fire kills 5 | Dhaka

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That winter night  (24 Dec,2010) I was in office and doing my work. Suddenly  I received a phone from Air Port area, one residents told me, that  they saw a huge fire on the sky not to understood what is happening but they think maybe  is plane crash or something is happened.  Do you know what is happened ? I said him we look after the matter and informed you latter. . .

Yes, Somethings is happened fire service and our other sources said, A coil factory explotation in Khilkhet area of Dhaka city. I reached on the spot within half an hour and covered it . . .

Local people and fire fights jointly work and removed burn bodies from the factory. A devastating fire, followed by an explosion, in a mosquito coil factory in Dhaka, khilkhat has killed at least five workers.The fire erupted at Coil Factory at Namapara around 9:30pm and was followed by a loud explosion. Fire chief Abu Nayeem Mohammed Shahidullah told reporters at the scene that they had recovered five charreds bodies. Copy Right: Monirul Alam

Hole area is black out huge number of eager  people rush on the area to observed the situation. The security person stand on the spot and firefighters all ready works. I saw one charred body lie-in on the road with a pice  of cloth after that I enter the factory.

A groups of firefighter and local people work in the factory. Inside the room is more darker only firefighters work their own light and local people work their mobile lit,  suddenly one people shout, “don’t  go to the next step” ! I stooped and saw another charred bodies left in front of me. After that I am working more carefully.

I saw more than three  cheered bodies on the factory and it is difficult to identify.  The hole factory broken out huge number of burn spray cans left on the factory. Suddenly I wet by a firefighters water.

My news editor is just waiting for my news photos I left the area on the way to my office . . .

According to the  news at least five workers were burnt alive and six others severely injured, in a coil ( anti-mosquito coil and spray warehouse) factory, as a  fire broken out in  Khilkhet Namapara area last night. The fire started around 9.30 pm and gutted the factory within half an hour. The injured person’s rush to admitted  the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Fire fighters, who reached the site and recovered five charred bodies form the spot. The dead could’t be identified immediately. One injured  told reports the fire broken out when the workers were removing chemicals form date-expired cans using a machine.

On June 3,  the National inferno claimed the lives of 123 people in the capital and afterwards the government took several measure  to ensure that flammable chemical are not handle or stored in populated areas.

Update ( 27 Dec, 2010): Death toll from the fire at Khilkhet coil factory warehouse rose to eight. as another injured worker has died Iqbal Hossain, 26. Earlier, the victims who died in the blaze at the factory were identified as Anwar Hossain, 23, Russel, 17, Yousuf, 25, Tofazzal, 20, Aminur, 25, Almas, 25 and Jewel.


 


 

 

PRIVATE | Publication

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When I come back to my home I really surprised to see my computer table, PRIVATE! Yes, International review of photographs magazine PRIVATE,  on my table- Private global report published my photo story ” People’s Struggle”. I pick it up and shortly look it’s nice, collectable and should be archives value. Around the globe total 17 photographers work published  in this winter 2010-11 edition.

Dhaka,December 2010. Private,Global Report an International Review of Photographs.Copy Right:Monirul Alam

The issue is [Anthropology] As unique and special the scenes are that the photographers for this issue have chosen to focus on,the similarities (what we have in common,what we share) that can be found around the globe are striking said their editorial. . .

Canadian photographer DONAL WEBER work Chernobyl issue,his work titled “Bastard Eden,Our Chernobyl” Donald began visiting this region, as he says, because he wanted to see what was there. His question was simple: What was daily life actually like, in A POST-NUCLER WORLD?

Hans Durrer write his editorial on my work, […] from “People’s  Struggle” with the floods that ravage Bangladesh each year to a Kalahari previously not seen (my favorites pics of all are the two first ones in blue).

Hear I am write the photographers name who their worked is Published in this Magazine at the same time I am very glad to Private Magazine to published my work and well reviewed . . .

Dhaka,December 2010. Private,Global Report an International Review of Photographs.Copy Right:Monirul Alam

Photographers:

Donald Weber

Isabelle Pateer

Kirk Ellingham

Guido Gazzilli

Nadia Shira Cohen

Daniel Traub

Antonia Zennaro

Alex Tomazatos

Monirul Alam (me)

Silvia Boarini

Martin Errichiello

Tessa Bunney

Nicola Lo Calzo

Tamas Paczai

Alessandro Toscano

Lene Munch

Matteo Bastianelli

7, December 2010

PRIVATE International review of photographs | People's Struggles by Monirul Alam

Tuesday, Dhaka

Note: Please click on this layout to see the link pages

End Violence Women

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Dhaka November 2010.Acid survivors Hasina attends a campaign program to End Violence Women organized by a national network in Bangladesh supported by UNFPA at Rabindra Sarober, Dhaka.Acid violence not only affects people physically and emotionally, it also has a devastating long-term effect on their economic and social life. Survivors face discrimination social inequality and a lack of opportunity. Bangladesh is the witness off the highest number of acid attack related incident.Copy Right:Monirul Alam

In the name of God

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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

EID TRAVEL | Dhaka

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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  . . .

16 November, 2010 Dhaka, Tuesday


Korbani | Dhaka

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KORBANI the sacrifice of animals on the tenth of Zilhajj OR Eid-ul-Azha, is next on of the Muslim people around the world.Bangladeshi  people also are  busy with their Eid related activities like home bound people standing long queues on the train station for purchase ticket, some of them going to the cattle market look around to purchase sacrifice animals with bit of confused Anthrax  . . .

After completing my office job I  returning on the way of my home with my motorbike. It was around 11.30 pm  suddenly I saw an interesting things, three kinds is  doing something on the street at mid-night I near to close upon of  them and watch  and ask them they said, Korbanir Chamrar Poster lagai . . .  amra madrashar chhatro . . .

Old Dhaka. November 2010. Orphanage students attached poster on the street wall at old Dhaka.Copy Right:Monirul Alam

Rabbi, Mostafa and Bappi three of them an orphanage students (madrasa student’s) attached poster on the street wall on the poster write a note, Please donated your sacrifice animals tanned hide for the orphan students. I spend many times  with them and talked- they are really enjoy this work and get feedback from the people they hope . . .

When I writing this post Dhaka city situation is enraged, BNP chief  opposition Khaleda Zia evicted from her cantonment house and angry BNP protester clash with law-enfources and they torch many vehicle around dhaka city law-enfources arrest many of them and BNP has called  day-long strike countrywide on Sunday. In this situation EID ahead people are more suffer   . .  .

Saturday,13 November 2010, Dhaka


HUMAN TRAIN | DHAKA

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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.

8 November, 2010 Dhaka, Monday


Children Portrait | Megh

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Dhaka June 2010. Portrait Megh. I took this portrait on indoor shooting . Not it well set it up- just captured the moment using window light. Copy Right:Monirul Alam

Philip Blenkinsop Lecture

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link Page NOOR:  http://www.noorimages.com/home/