Vanishing Identity

We are not myths of the past, ruins in the jungle, or zoos. We are people and we want to be respected, not to be victims of intolerance and racism.
– Rigoberta Menchu, Guatemala Nobel Peace Prize Winner, 1992

Thus, indigenous peoples have become the most marginalized and vulnerable group in the country of Bangladesh in its thirty eight years of independence. There is no constitutional recognition of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh the issue of the identity of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh has led to much debate and controversy, and on occasions has brought indigenous leaders and government officials into sharp disagreement. My project is a visual and narrative documentation of this Indigenous people express their daily life and their traditional and cultural condition in the society. I am using photography not only as a means of evidence, but also a link for the imagination.

Dinajpure, Bangladesh November-2009. KORA man with bow and arrow is preparing for hunting.The UN adopts an historic Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the General Assembly, 13th September 2007. States voted: 144 for, 4 against (US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand), 11 abstentions (including Bangladesh). - Copyright Monirul Alam

Srimangal, Bangladesh May-2008. A khashia mother preparing food. Khashia villages are usally on hilltops surrounded by betel nut trees - Copyright Monirul Alam

Dinajpure, Bangladesh November-2009. Many of indigenous people worships to nature and they keep this kind of plant in their houses named Tulshi tree. - Copyright Monirul Alam

Winter Time

According to the Bangla calendar it spreads over the months of Paus and Magh (mid-December to mid-February). But practically, November through February is the winter season in Bangladesh. Winter is the best and most enjoyable season of Bangladesh. Date juice is extracted during this time, to be used as juice or made into gud (molasses). This is the season for pitha or rice cakes such as bhapa pitha, chitai pitha, patisapta and puli pitha.

During this season, a centre of high pressure lies over the northwestern part of India (Himalayan zone). A stream of cold air flows eastward from this high pressure and enters Bangladesh through its northwest corner. During this season, winds inside Bangladesh generally have a northerly component

Hijuliya,Manikgonj,Bangladesh December 2009-Winter Time-Copyright-Monirul Alam

Shaper Bazar,Munshigonj,Bangladesh January 2008-Winter Time-Copyright-Monirul Alam

Hijuliya,Manikgonj,Bangladesh December 2009-Winter Time-Copyright-Monirul Alam

Hijuliya,Manikgonj,Bangladesh December 2009-Winter Time-Copyright-Monirul Alam

Primary Terminal Exam

Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 2009- The students showed victory and smile after declared their result of primary education terminal examination. Nearly 89% percent of students passed the new primary education terminal exam. The Government introduces the new public exam first time in this year. The students must pass the terminal exam to get enrolled to class six. Copyright-Monirul Alam

Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 2009- The students showed victory and smile after declared their result of primary education terminal examination. Nearly 89% percent of students passed the new primary education terminal exam. The Government introduces the new public exam first time in this year. The students must pass the terminal exam to get enrolled to class six. Copyright-Monirul Alam

Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 2009- The students showed victory and smile after declared their result of primary education terminal examination. Nearly 89% percent of students passed the new primary education terminal exam. The Government introduces the new public exam first time in this year. The students must pass the terminal exam to get enrolled to class six. Copyright-Monirul Alam

Victory Day Celebrated

Dhaka, Bangladesh- December 2009. Nafiza, tied the national flag on her heads and wearing a dresses combining the colors of the flag-green and red. She celebrated the 38 Victory days-Copy Right Monirul Alam

The Nation across the country and the Bangladesh missions abroad celebrated the 38th Victory Day paying tribute to the three million martyrs for their ultimate sacrifice for the nation.

On this day in 1971, the nation under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won victory over Pakistani occupation forces after nine months of bloodshed.

General AAK Niazi, chief of the Pakistani occupation forces, surrendered to the allied forces of Bangladesh and India at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on December 16 with 93,000 soldiers following their defeat in the war that broke out in March, 1971.

Martyred Intellectuals’ Day Observed

Dhaka, Mirpur, Bangladesh- December 2009.A child comes with his father at the Martyred Intellectual’s Graveyard to pay tribute at mirpure Dhaka. The nation is observing Martyred Intellectuals' Day on Monday, paying homage to the memory of the university professors and teachers, scientists, doctors, writers, journalist and artists who were brutally killed just days before Bangladesh achieved victory in 1971- Copyright Monirul Alam

Noble Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus

Let’s dream that by 2030 we’ll make South Asia the first poverty-free region of the world. Let’s prepare to challenge the world to find poor person anywhere in South Asian.

                                         – Noble Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus.

 

Dhaka, Bangladesh October 2006. Portrait of Noble Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus.Copy Right Monirul Alam

Recently, Noble laureate in a lecture delivered at the joint meeting of the member of Lok sabha abd Rajya Sabha of India in the Central Hall of Indian Parliament The speech in honor of academician and Parliamentarian Prof Hirendranath Mukherjee, whoes commitment to social justice spanned over 60 years until his death in 2004.