Group photography exhibition Echoes of the Earth began at the National Press Club on Friday aimed at creating awareness of environment and nature.
The exhibition, organised by Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association and Dhoritri Rokhhay Amra, displays 35 photographs of 19 photographers. Women and children affairs adviser Sharmeen S Murshid opened the show.
As an outcome of the competition, which featured the categories, Energy and Environment and Air, Water and Soil Pollution, juries selected six photographs for awards. Additionally, 35 photographs from the 1,500 submitted by 500 photojournalists were chosen for the exhibition.
Photographer Rafiqur Rahman, photographer and educator Abir Abdullah, and professor Md Jakariya were the honourable jury.
In the Energy and Environment category, Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman won the first prize, while Habibur Rahman secured the second prize and Minhaj Uddin received the third prize.
In the Air, Water and Soil Pollution category, Mamunur Rashid placed first, Mehedi Hasan second, and Sheikh Nasir third.
The award-giving ceremony was also held at the Kazi Nazrul Auditorium of the venue and was chaired by the president of the Association, AKM Mohsin.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Jalal Ahmed,
National Press Club president Hasan Hafiz, and professor Ziauddin Ahmed, among others, spoke at the event while association’s publicity and publication secretary Md Saurav delivered his welcome speech.
Md Saurav said that as photojournalists, they experienced river pollution and the grabbing of water bodies not only in urban areas but now also in rural areas due to unplanned urbanisation and industrialisation.
Sharmeen S Murshid said that pollution is a political ideology for the corrupt, and the youth should be aware of it and organise activities against it.
‘Pollution is rampant across the world, and we are unable to keep future generations healthy,’ she said, adding that both society and the state are beneficiaries of corruption, so no one is interested in change.
Jalal Ahmed said that this exhibition should be displayed in schools for the younger generation to raise awareness.
The two-day exhibition will end today.
