Life in the land of diversity

Ashraful Haque

25 December, 2020, 11:40 am

Last modified: 25 December, 2020, 12:08 pm

Life in the land of diversity

This In Focus issue presents selected photos of Md Fakrul Islam, one of this year's LightsFlare awardees, taken in different parts of the country

Ashraful Haque

25 December, 2020, 11:40 am

Last modified: 25 December, 2020, 12:08 pm

Several Bangladeshi photographers have won the prestigious LightsFlare International Photography Awards 2020.

This In Focus issue presents selected photos of Md Fakrul Islam, one of the awardees, taken in different parts of the country. His photo has been awarded in the Travel / Lifestyle / Documentary / Street / Portrait category.

Lights of soul: Hindu devotees gather for Rakher Upobash festival at Lokenath Brahmachari Ashram in Barodi, Narayanganj. Photo: Md Fakrul Islam

Fakrul Islam has worked with the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) as a director. Recently he has started his Post Retirement Leave (PRL), and is going into full retirement in June 2021. Before going to PRL, Fakrul was the range commander of Rajshahi Division.

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Fakrul developed an enthusiasm for photography from a very young age and started with film cameras. But he took it more seriously from 2012.

Prayer brings happiness: A congregation of Muslims from all over the world during Bishwa Ijtema at Tongijpg. Photo: Md Fakrul Islam

Getting transferred from place to place as a part of his job brought an opportunity for the photographer to come across intriguing subjects that nudged his passion for photography.

Dream school_ Children taking lessons from their teacher at a colourful alpona uthon at alpona village in Nachol, Chapainawabganj. Photo: Md Fakrul Islam

The award winning photo (the photo on the top) was also taken in the Bangladesh Ansar-VDP Academy at Shafipur, Gazipur, during a preparatory session for the annual national rally of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, when 625 female Ansar-VDP members were performing a display.

Spiritual sacrifice: Hindu devotees believe that by satisfying Shiva, the Charak Puja will bring prosperity by eliminating the sorrow and sufferings of the previous year. Photo: Md Fakrul Islam

The photographer has taken part in many national and international exhibitions, and bagged many awards including a prestigious one from the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun in 2017.

His future plans include holding a solo photo exhibition.

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