Drik Gallery in Panthapath recently opened a free photo exhibition titled “Buk Petechhi Guli Kor” (Shoot Me in the Chest), featuring 115 photographs taken of the summer’s student-led uprising.
The photographs tell stories from many perspectives of the conflict: a policeman grinning with glee as he shoots at unarmed protestors, students lying dead on the streets of Dhaka, an innocent rickshaw driver bleeding-out after being hit by indiscriminate gunfire, and aerial views of Dhaka’s streets packed with jubilant demonstrators after Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled.
It is a remarkable collection of photographs. It gives viewers an opportunity to witness the uprising from the very center of the brutal indiscriminate violence that gripped Dhaka for days–at times the photographs are taken quite literally in between demonstrators and police.
The exhibition is a testament, not only to the resilience and sacrifice of far too many innocent civilians but also the photojournalists who risked their lives to capture and record events at which the press themselves were often targeted by those in power. It reminds viewers of the importance of recording political conflict, both for future generations and the outside world.
Parvez Ahmad Rony, a photojournalist who works for Drik and took several of the exhibition’s photographs himself, spoke to me about the importance of photographing July’s uprising:
“Our media was tightly controlled by digital security acts,” he said, “and photojournalism was the only way to publish the truth.” He told me that one of his colleagues had been physically abused during the protests, with his camera being smashed on the road to prevent him from capturing events. “The regime was afraid of photojournalism and wanted to suppress our voice by banning cameras. I think that's the power of photojournalism–pictures never lie.”
The exhibition was planned to last for just two weeks, but its popularity has caused Drik to extend the exhibition until September 29. It is open for visitors from 3pm to 8pm.
They are also planning virtual and book versions of the exhibition.