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| Celebrations! | ||||||||||
| Photographer(s): Photography and Text: Abir Abdullah/EPA | ||||||||||
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Central Shahid Minar. Indigenous men, women and children dressed in their traditional clothes, ornaments have gathered around the monument. Traditional musical instruments fill the air with music that instantly reminds one of our very own beginnings. All around is a festive mood, for it is a festive day — the International Day of the World's Indigenous People. However, they are not alone in the celebrations of the day, photographers/journalists, socio-cultural and political activists and others have joined the rally. The program started with a traditional Chakma harvest dance. All around me were happy faces― faces that made even the on-lookers’ smile. The whole arena was a collage of colours, shining ornaments, dancing feet, and bodies swirling with the hypnotizing rhythms of the fast tempo music. It seemed as if for a short time we were all transported into the world of the deep, lush hill communities of our country. And all this in the midst of incessantly pouring rain! My main concern at that moment was to take photos as well as to save the digital camera. I always carry an umbrella (photographers’ umbrella!) just for such a situation. I placed myself in a better position to see the faces of the performers. Some of the other photojournalists took shelter under my umbrella to save their cameras from the rain. Even though I was in a philanthropist mood I was forced to give up my photojournalistic endeavours temporarily. And as I stood there looking at all the activities around me I felt the ironic contrast this image presented. These people who were at that moment participating in festive celebrations were the same ones who had for centuries fought for their freedom and rights, created movements like the Santal Hul. I realized at the instant that their present activities were a camouflage of their pain, loss and embedded passions. |
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| HR Pioneers | ||||||||
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| Ain o Salish Kendro (ASK), is a legal aid and human rights resource centre. It provides free legal aid to the poor- women, workers and child workers... >> details | ||||||||
| In Brief | ||||||||
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22 percent of country's population poor, destitute women
Dhaka, Feb 6 (BDNEWS)- About 22 percent of the total population of the country are poor and destitute women. According to women affairs directorate, there are 17,39,542 poor and destitute women in the country.13/02/06 >> details |
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