The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

The 1st Tourism Photography Competition and Exhibition was concluded at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on July 5.

The photography exhibition was jointly organized by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and Shilpakala Academy. Banglalink, country's second largest mobile phone operator, was the sponsor of the event. Ekushey TV and daily Shomokal were the media partners of the event. Syed Mohammad Zubair, Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, inaugurated the two-day exhibition on July 4. Shafiq Alam Mehedi, Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Acadeemy, among others, were present on the occasion.

The judges evaluated a total of 3,000 entries from 370 contestants and from these, 200 photographs were selected for the exhibition. The subjects of the photographs were varied - ranging from a 'Fishing Festival' in a remote part of Narsingdi to 'Pahela Baishakh' celebration at Ramna Batomul in Dhaka. The underlying theme: Highlighting Bangl-adesh. The best three entries were awarded at the closing ceremony at the Music and Dance Centre Auditorium of Shilpakala Academy. Mahbub Jamil, Special assistant to the Chief Adviser, was present as chief guest at the concluding ceremony.

Photographs of Shoaib Farooqi, MM Zahidur Rahman Biplob and Sheikh Mohir Uddin were selected best three photographs in the competition. Each of them got Tk 10,000, a crest and a certificate. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation will buy 50 selected photographs from the exhibition. Besides, rest of the participants will be given certificates by the Parjatan Corporation at a function later.

After award giving ceremony artistes Mita Haque, Kiron Chandra Roy and Rafiqul Alam rendered songs and dance performed by groups of dance artistes Deepa Khondaker and Kabirul Islam Ratan. A view of workers plucking tealeaves in a sea of green by Mohammad Yunus was familiar to most, yet refreshing. Hundreds of young men, up to their necks in water, take part in a 'Machh Dhorar Utsab in Narsingdi by Noor Ahmed Jilal. Mangrove forest in the Sundarbans by Md Golam Sarwar seemed sleepy. An image of the peaceful Saint Martin's Island appears all postcard-like. A serpentine narrow stream making its way through a sandy shoal in Bholaganj, Sylhet by Md Akhlas Uddin was appealing. The green tips of Keokradong Range in Bandarban against a backdrop of pristine blue sky by Shoaib Farooqi was picture perfect.

All these images and more brought to light facets of Bangladesh - some overly familiar and some surprisingly underexposed.

The exhibition also included photos of historic and archaeological sites, lifestyle, flora and fauna.

The dome of Lalan's shrine in Kushtia, like a lotus bud by Firoze Ahmed had rather mundane looking buildings in the background.

The once majestic Ruplal House by Mohammad Saber in Old Dhaka now looks decrepit, choked by constructions surrounding it.

Rani Bhabani Palace in Natore by Abdur Rab Dulal looked lonely. Chittagong War Cemetery by Abdul Malek Babul looked well organised. Surrounded by colour photographs, a black and white image of 'Paani Khela' in Cox's Bazar by Suman Pal looked weird.

Portraits of a Murong man and a Tripura woman in their tradition outfits and jewellery by Golam Quddus Helal indicated multiplicity.