loss – MONIRUL ALAM

“Photography has been a tool to discover stories from people and share it to the world. It is a job with humanity and responsibility.” – Abir Abdullah / EPA Photojournalist
That time is late afternoon, a beautiful light ray fall on the destruction old building in Nepal ! What’s going on here ? Why photojournalist taking pictures in this ruins building ? Where it’s people ? Yes, the answer is still one; An Earthquake ! It registered 7.8 on the richter scale. Recently the whole world becomes speechless to see the destruction of human loss and historical property in Nepal. A 55 seconds quake killed more than 8,0000 people injured ore than 18,000 in different parts of Nepal.
Number of international media was there to cover this horrified destruction of human lives and property. A Bangladeshi noted photojournalist Abir Abdullah one of them to cover it and his bring back to made a solo photography exhibition title “Nepal-Resilience and Reasons held this week ( 5-11 June 2015 ) at Gallery Chitrak in the capital of Dhaka, Bangladesh. About his exhibition Abir said, The quake was felt as far as some places in India and Bangladesh, is important to aware our people to prepare for such calamities in a country like Bangladesh where building are built without confirming to the building codes, erecting unplanned structure and what not. At the same I would like to show solidarity of Bangladeshi people with towards the beautiful people and the country of Nepal.
Abir arrived in Nepal on the second day of the quake to cover the devastation. He witnessed the fear and tear of the people who lost their loved ones,families and neighbors. He travelled major affected areas documenting the catastrophe of nature and the struggle of the surviving people. His eyes and his camera recorded once again how defenseless we humans an against the forces of nature. This documentary evidence shown the resilience of this friendly people of Nepal started rebuilding their lives again.
Biography

Abir Abdullah is an epa photographer based in Bangladesh.

Abir Abdullah was born in 1971. Started photography career in 1996 at Drik Picture Library, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is currently working for the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA) as Bangladesh correspondent.

Photographs published in Blink, Time, Newsweek, Der Speigel, New Internationalist, Guardian, International Herald Tribune, Asiaweek, Elmundo, Stern, Geo etc.

Abir’s sensitive work on environmental issues is especially notable. His numerous awards include Mother Jones, NPPA, Days Japan, and Islamic Unity-Iran.

He completed the three year seminar ‘Pleasure of Life’ assigned and supported by World Press Photo Foundation Netherlands. His photographs have been exhibited in Europe, South America, Asia and the U.S. His work has been published in the World Press Photo book New Stories and Phaidon Press’ Blink.

Abir Abdullah also jury in China International Press Photo Contest in China in 2008. World Press Photo Contest in Amsterdam in 2011. His web site http://www.abirphoto.com

Exhibition Review by Monirul Alam

19 March 2013

Old Dhaka, Bangladesh

Nothing is schedule but HORTAL / Strike assignment, BNP and its alliance call 36 hours strike countrywide.

today’s I see the same scene a few vehicles run in the busy road, pedestrian walks on the street and security force deployed in the city. Number of Rickshaw moving around the city without any traffic harass.

I don’t take any pictures yet just gossip with my other media friend’s in front of Jagannath University in the Old part of Dhaka.

Today’s I have make a planned to takes different pictures about the HORTAL issue. During the HORTAL time what about the effect of the business sector, me and my reporter RATAN bhai to make a plan to go to the Shadarghat Fruit’s market to see the real condition . . .

Several fruit’s seller sits idle with their fruit’s basket but no customers and no sell made , their face is really unhappy during the 48 hours HORTAL they are really annoyed. I see a one retail seller sits in beside the river and separate a rotten fruit’s, I took pictures and talked with him, his name is ANWAR, he said I makes a big loss around five Kg. rotten grape’s left to the Buriganga river. I see his faces he is shocked foe that losses. We move to the other places and observe the same scene.

According to International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh during the HORTALS cost the country an estimated $200 million every day. During the HORTAL time all business have been forced to remain closed for days at a time, and this resulted is not only personal financial losses but also country big economic losses.

” If HORTAL is continue my business is make a trouble at the same time me and my family also make a trouble” – ANWAR, Fruit’s Seller

Finally we talked to the Dhaka Fruit’s Association sectary general Md. SERAJUL ISLAM, he said during the HORTAl our business is remain closed, we don’t take any risk, no export import causes transportation, no vehicles run form the border area to the capital, our fruit’s rotten and no sell made, finally we made a big losses, as our estimate that one day we losses for HORTAL around fifteen core 15,0000000 Taka. He added the several business sectors also affected by the HORTAL and counting losses. We don’t accept this kind of HORTA, BUT we really helpless, Please save us and our request to all our political parties to look after the matter . . .