The Bangladesh Press Photo Contest 2025 has begun at Drik for the fourth consecutive time to celebrate the professionalism, skill, and courage of the country's photojournalists. 

The names of seven winners were announced at the inaugural ceremony held on Saturday evening,m at Drikpath Bhaban in Panthapath, Dhaka.

The contest began on February 9 with an open call for submissions, and a total of 252 photojournalists submitted 1,310 photographs taken over the past year, covering political, economic, social, cultural, wildlife, and documentary themes. 

From these, 31 photographs were selected for the exhibition, which is now open to the public.

The Picture of the Year 2024 award was presented to Ashraful Alom, former photojournalist of Prothom Alo, who received a cash prize of Tk 1,00,000. 

Six other photographers were awarded under three categories. 

In the Politics category, Kazi Salahuddin Razu of Bonik Barta was named winner, and Dr Kumar Bishwajit of Reviewthatplace.com received an Honourable Mention. 

United News of Bangladesh (UNB) Photojournalist Tahiyat Nazifa Noor's one of the nominated photographs is being exhibited in this exhibition under this particular category.

In the Public Interest Journalism category, M Yousuf Tushar of Business Bangladesh was named winner, while Md Abu Noman Omit of limerickbd.comreceived an Honourable Mention. 

In the Arts, Culture and Sports category, Jahir Ahammed Shakil of Image Ghor Photographic Society was declared winner, and Rashed Shumon of The Daily Star received an Honourable Mention. 

Each category winner received Tk 50,000 and Honourable Mentions received Tk 10,000, along with crests and certificates. 

The 2025 jury panel included Rani Yan Yan, Advisor to the Chakma Circle and human rights defender; Munem Wasif, photographer and teacher; Tanvir Chowdhury, Bangladesh Correspondent of Al Jazeera; and Zahidul Salim, Special Photojournalist of Prothom Alo. Drik’s General Manager ASM Rezaur Rahman curated the exhibition and moderated the inauguration ceremony.

Jajang Nokrek, a Garo indigenous photographer from the plains, received the Indigenous People Grant 2025 under the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest. 

The exhibition also features work by Denim Chakma, winner of the 2024 Grant, and Nokrek’s work will be exhibited in 2026.

In his welcome remarks, Dr Shahidul Alam said, "One of the special features of the photographs you are seeing on the wall is that the events that are being told through the photographs have been denied by every government every time. This is the custom of our country. Events happen, and the people who happen to them know it, but the government denies it always."

"At the same time, last year's photographs were very different due to political reasons. There was a dictatorship, there was a movement, then there was no government for a while, and a new government came. We saw and recall all these in last year's photographs."

Jury member Chakma Rani Yan Yan said that some photographs have the power to deeply move viewers and challenge their beliefs. 

She shared that she personally prioritised thought-provoking images that may not align with one’s personal experience. 

She acknowledged the difficulty of selecting a few standout images from thousands of submissions and extended her best wishes to all participants, winners and non-winners alike.

The 12-day exhibition, featuring photographs selected by the jury, will run until April 30, open daily to the public from 3 pm to 8 pm. 

As in previous years, the exhibition has been curated by Drik’s General Manager ASM Rezaur Rahman, who also hosted the inaugural event.

Drik has continued the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest since 2022 with the aim of highlighting the achievements and working lives of photojournalists.