ভোরের আলো ফুটে উঠার আগেই প্রস্তুতিটা নিতে হয় ! রাত তিনটার সময় ঘর থেকে বের হন—তারা । তারপর ছোট ছোট ডিঙ্গী নৌকা নিয়ে বিলে চলে যায়—শাপলা তুলতে ! সারাদিন শাপলা তুলে নৌকা বোঝাই করে তা নিয়ে চলে আসেন ঘাটে, বিকেল নাগাদ । নদীর ঘাটে শুরু হয় দ্বিতীয় পর্ব; শাপলা গুলো আটিঁ বাঁধার কাজ। এই কাজটি পানির মধ্যে দাড়িয়ে থেকেই করতে হয় । সেদিন গিয়েছিলাম মুন্সীগঞ্জের সিরাজদিখানে, এই শাপলা তোলার ছবি এবং সেইসব মানুষ গুলোর সুখ-দুঃখের কথা জানার জন্য । যাদের জীবন-জীবিকা প্রকৃতির নিয়মেই ঋতুতে ঋতুতে পাল্টে যায়—এইখানে ।
কৃষক ইয়ার রহমানের সাথে কথা হয় ঘাটে বসে । বেলা তিনটা-চারটার দিকে আমরা সব শাপলা রেডি কইরা পিকআপে তুইলা দেই, তারপরে হেইডা চইলা যায় ঢাকার যাত্রাবাড়ী, হেনে দরদাম কইরা বিক্রি হয় —শাপলা। সারাদিন এক নৌকা শাপলা তুললে খরচপাতি বাদ দিয়ে তা ধরেন তিন/চার শত টাকা আমাগো থাহে ।
এখন শরৎ কালের শুরু—আকাশটা অদ্ভুত সুন্দর হয়ে আছে। সড়কটির দুইপাশে বিল; সেই বিলেই শত শত শাপলা ফুটে আছে । সড়কের পাশে সারিসারি গাছ, মাঝে মাঝে দুই একটা গাড়ী চলে যাচ্ছে, তাদের গন্তব্যের দিকে। জায়গাটা খুব ভালো লাগল !
ঘাটে বসে বসে ছবি তুলতে থাকি—ইয়ার রহমানের সুখ-দু্ঃখের কথা শুনি । অন্য আর একজন কৃষক গনি মিয়া শাপলার আটিঁ বাঁধতে বাঁধতে বলেন, সাংবাদিক ভাইরে তোমার দুঃখের কথাটা কও রহমান ভাই, রহমান মাথা নিচু করে কাজ করতে থাকেন । গনি মিয়াই বলতে শুরু করেন, চার মাইয়্যার এহনো বিয়া দিবার পারে নাই, মাইয়্যারা বড় হইয়া গেল ? বাপ-মায়ের বড় চিন্তা অভাবের সংসার কেমনে দিন চলবো । এই করনার সময়ে আমরা যে কেমনে চলতাছি, তা আল্লাই জানে।শাপলার দাম কইমা গেছে, বেচা-বিক্রি ভালো না—এবার । মানুষের হাতে টাকা নাই । জীবন বড় কষ্টে চলতাছে, আমাগো। সাংবাদিক ভাই আমাগো কথা একটু লেইখা দিয়েন ।
ততোক্ষণে ঘাটে আরো অনেক নৌকা এসে থেমেছে। সব নৌকাতেই শাপলা বোঝাই—আমাদের জাতীয় ফুল ‘শাপলা’ যা এই মানুষ গুলোর জীবিকানির্ব্বাহের একটা মাধ্যম হিসাবে কাজ করছে।
সড়কের ওপারে একটা উঁচু জায়গায় গিয়ে দাঁড়াই । যতোদূর চোখ যায় বিলটি দেখি । দূর থেকে একটা ডিঙ্গী নৌকা নিয়ে দুটি শিশু এই ঘাটের দিকেই আসছে শাপলা বোঝাই করে । বিকেলের রোদ ওদের চোখে-মুখে, ওরা হাসছে ! ওদের শাপলাও তুলে দেওয়া হবে পিকআপে । যা একটু পরেই ছুটবে ঢাকার উদ্দেশ্যে, আমারও গন্তব্যে ঢাকা . . .
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. In Bangladesh we are seeing rice-crises firsthand everyday. The long queues on the roadside subsidized rice sale centers are probably an indication of the coming hunger, when 30 million people will face starvation. In Bangladesh natural disasters like SIDR, River Erosion, Drought and Flood mass migration of people from the countryside to the cities. Visions of money, food and a better life, but many of they failed to realize their dreams lured the migrants, and the rural poor became the urban poor. I began to document of marginal condition in my own country. My investigation finally brought me to a climate refugee in Bangladesh.
The black night of March 25, 1971 when the Pakistani occupation forces kicked off one of the worst genocides in history that led to a nine-month war for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Every year different socio-cultural and educational organizations chalk out elaborate programs to observe 25th March. In 2013 I was documents the present situation after its 42 years of Independence.
The object of my work is to report the real moment of life. I recorded many times as an eyewitness. My main interest lies in documentary storytelling focusing on global issues . . .
Bangladesh based artist, photojournalist and documentary filmmaker currently works documenting social issue. His photographs have been widely published national and international media around the world. He lives in Dhaka with his beautiful family. He loves photography & teaching with creative way . . .
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of early marriage in the world.Almost two-thirds of the women between 20 and 24 were married before the age 18, according to a national survey by Plan Bangladesh and ICDDR,B in 2013.The negative impact of child marriage is acknowledge worldwide and consequently there are a host of policies and programmes that focus strongly on its prevention.
Married Adolescent in Bangladesh
65% of Bangladeshi girls are married off before the age of 18 and approximately one third of women aged 20 to 24 were married off by the age of 15 ( UNICEF )
240 women in every 100,000 live birth die from pregnancy related cause ( UNDP 2013 )
It is necessary to protect child rights of girls who have already entered marriage. Through my photo project I would like to show the present condition about the early married girls, especially their daily life activates and the married girls empowering through the Image Project. The project titled Initiatives for Married Adolescent Girl’s Empowement (IMAGE) aims to ensure a life with dignity for early married girls in Bangladesh by improving their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights ( SRHR ).In this context, IMAGE working for married adolescent girl’s empowerment.
Effect of Child-marriage
Maternal Mortality during childbirth
Child-Mortality
Post-natal Complication
Unable to continue Education
Isolation and lack of Social Visibility
Unable to engage in Income Generating Activities
Young married girls are more likely to drop out of school and, consequently, miss opportunities in gainful employment later in life. Teenage pregnancy, before the age of physical maturity, increases the risk of birth complications and giving birth to a low-birth-weight baby, which is closely linked to child stunting.
The power imbalance between young brides and their husbands make girls more susceptible to domestic violence and other risks. Overall, early marriage keeps young brides and their children from reaching their full physical, economic, and social potential.
I try to shown my photo story as well as married girls aware of their rights, health condition, social position and their empowering in our society in Bangladesh.I think, in my depth storytelling to make concern and aware world wide audience and policy maker. I have been blessed that time and working on this project, the world has started to take notice of the importance of addressing Child Marriage and their human rights.Now there are conferences and gatherings where grassroots organization gather to talk about the issue.To me its quite lovely in that respect through Image Project.
Notes: The project, a work-in-progress . . .
Salina Audio:
Married Adolescent Girl’s Empowerment~ Salina 19 , Married at the age of 16. She said after her marriage suffer more like health complication, sexual relation.So need to stop the child marriage and empowering the girl’s who suffer more . She educated herself and pass the SSC exam. Now she works as a school teacher in the village of Ramchandrapure. Gaibandha, Bangladesh. Photo: Monirul AlamMarried Adolescent Girl’s Empowerment~ Rupali Begum 20, She read in class seven after that she married. She was not wanted as early married but her family do it. She said married girl suffer many complication. She lives with her father’s house. Her husband works abroad. They have two children. Photo: Monirul AlamMarried Adolescent Girl’s Empowerment~ Mazada Khatun 19 , When she was 17 she married to Md Samiul. She said after my marriage I suffer health complication with my eye problem. I think need to change child marriage system. Mazada doing house hold work to support her family. Photo: Monirul AlamMarried Adolescent Girl’s Empowerment~ Hawoa 18, married at the age of 16. She divorce to her husband Sabuj, because Sabuj is a drug addicted person and not doing anything, presently Hawoa live with her child in her father’s house, She wanted to work and established herself. Photo: Monirul AlamHawoa Audio :
Photo: Monirul Alam
The Bangladesh government endorsed in draft law on 25 November, 2016 for preventing child marriage fixing 18 years as the minimum age for girls to get married but kept a provision for special circumstances under which girls below the age could tie the knot. Women and rights bodies demanded cancellation of the provision terming it contrary to the very law that has been proposed. According to the draft, men 21 and above could get married and if either the groom or the bride or both are below 21 and 18, it would be considered a child marriage and an offence. [ News Published on 26 November 2016 The Daily Star ]
Photo: Monirul Alam Book Cover Photo: Shahidul Alam
I remember when I met you in the house of terror
Of what you gave me and surrender to me.
In those moment in which the light was a dream or a miracle.
However, you were the light among the darkness.
We were as one in our misfortune.
Today,after thousands of misfortunes more.
I can see you, as I did then, always looking forward.
We will see each other again through the fog that we will disperse.
Do not forget comrade.
[ Muriel Dockendorff Navarrete ] Chilean Poet,Lyricist and economics student
Notes: Currently I read the book ‘Tortured Truths’ by Rahnuma Ahmed. Love to read this book and I think it’s a great collection to me.Book cover photo: Shahidul Alam
Nov. 25, 2015 – Dhaka, Bangladesh – Women activists protest demanding elimination of violence against women on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in front of Central Shaid Minar in Dhaka.Recent global prevalence figures (WHO) indicate that 35% of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. In 2013, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) with support from UNFPA released a national survey of violence against women that found that 87 percent of ever married women have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime with 77 percent reporting violence in the past 12 months.
MONIRUL ALAM 