A two-day travelling photo exhibition by Pathshala South Asian Media Institute titled “Photography in the People’s Uprising: July Photography – Witness to History and Tool of Struggle” began on Monday morning at Dhaka University’s Swoparjito Swadhinata Chattar, bringing to the streets powerful images that documented the July–August 2024 uprising.
The exhibition features works by 14 photographers who risked their lives to capture moments of intense street protests, violent crackdowns, and the spirit of resistance that defined the movement.
Organised as an open-air gallery, it aims to revisit key locations in Dhaka that turned into battlefields during the historic months — including the Central Shaheed Minar, TSC, Mohammadpur Beribadh, Mirpur, Jatrabari, Rampura, and Hatirjheel.
Renowned photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam, along with fellow photographers, teachers, students and other professionals, joined the opening event.
“This initiative has brought the gallery to the people — even working-class passers-by are stopping to see the images. Without photographers, perhaps Sheikh Hasina would still be in power; their work should be honoured and protected with proper copyright recognition,” Shahidul Alam said at the event.
Photographer Taslima Akhter said the exhibition serves to remember the days of the uprising, while Pathshala teacher Jannatul Mawa noted that when the media was unable to play its role, the photographs spoke the truth.
Photographer Jibon Ahmed, who also has a solo exhibition running almost simultaneously at Alliance Francaise Dhaka (AFD) of the photos he took during the Uprising, recalled facing live gunfire from the BGB targeting protestors, while Syed Ashraful Alam shared memories of capturing images amid the chaos in Uttara, and Suman Kanti Pal recounted similar experiences in Rampura.
Before setting out, the participating photographers reflected on the challenges of documenting the unrest that happened in July 2024.
Following the reminiscences, five vans carrying the photographs embarked on their journey through the city’s flashpoint areas, engaging with the public along the way. The exhibition will continue until Tuesday.
Participating photographers include Syed Ashraful Alam, Istiak Karim, KM Asad, Jibon Ahmed, Dipu Malakar, Noor Alam, Moin Bulu, Md Shafiqul Islam, Raihan Ahmed, Rahat Karim, Shuvra Kanti Das, Sultan Mahmud Mukut, Suman Kanti Pal, and Habibul Haque.