The eighth edition of Chobi Mela, the largest photography festival in Asia, will begin at 11 venues in the capital today.
The opening ceremony will be held at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
The Drik Picture Library Ltd and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute have jointly organised the biennial event.
The festival will feature more than 30 artists from more than 20 countries around the world.
Some 33 exhibitions, 12 workshops, 2 days of portfolio reviews and several artist talks, lectures and presentations will be held during the event.
Organisers revealed the details about the event at a press conference at the Drik premises yesterday.
Shahidul Alam, an eminent photographer and director of the festival; curators ASM Rezaur Rahman, and Munem Wasif, guest curator Salauddin Ahmed and Mahbubur Rahman, visual artist and a founder-trustee of Britto Arts Trust, were present on the occasion.
Participating photographers Kevin Bubriski from USA and Cristina Nuñez from Spain were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahidul Alam said: “Chobi Mela elevates Bangladeshi art to a new level.”
“The quality and breadth of the work is truly exceptional. The diversity and range, staggering,” he said.
“This festival is a turning point in curatorial approach and will mark a new approach in audience interaction,” he added.
“The two-week long festival will run till February 5 while this edition’s theme is “intimacy,” Shahidul Alam said.