Comic book "Satire and Ridicule" was launched at DrikPath Bhobon in Dhaka's Panthapath on Thursday evening.
The book is edited by photographer-activist Shahidul Alam and published jointly by Drik Picture Library, earki, and the Bangladesh Cartoonist Association (BANCARAS).
The book is compiled based on "Cartoon e Bidroho"—an exhibition organised at Drik back in August. The book carries about 200 selected cartoons depicting the fall of Sheikh Hasina and the July mass uprising in Bangladesh.
Dhaka University Mass Communication and Journalism Professor Dr Gitiara Nasreen, Dhaka University Sociology Associate Professor Dr Samina Luthfa, and cartoonist Mehedi Haque delivered speeches at the launching event, moderated by Drik’s Managing Director Shahidul Alam.
“The time is safer than before, but it is of utmost importance to raise our voices while repression happens. We should stand beside those who talk during testing times. We need to continue our work because asking questions is always relevant,” Shahidul Alam said at the event.
Dr Gitiara Nasreen said, “I am amazed that many people are working to document our memories. People could not express themselves for many years, and then an outburst happened; a lot of dissenting voices came to the forefront during this time, and a big chunk of this was expressed through cartoons, satire, and memes. Cartoon has an international language.”
Samina Lutfa said, “It is crucial to know behind the scenes of a cartoon to understand the politics behind it. A cartoon has the potential to spread quicker than a thousand-word speech. People can swiftly comprehend the situation through a cartoon.”
Cartoonist Mehedi Haque said, “Young cartoonists draw most of the cartoons in this book. We have collected about 500 cartoons from the internet, among which only 10-15 were created by known cartoonists.”
“Many people are working through different mediums, but the culture of documentation is mostly absent. As the book is published in English, this is a great opportunity for international readers,” Mehedi added.
Earlier on September 24, the cartoon book was launched at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, by the Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, Professor Dr Yunus.