Photographers and researchers on Friday said that romantic documentarian photographer Amanul Huq also captured the history of Bangladesh.
They also said that although he received recognition from the state, he suffered due to a lack of money for treatment.
They made the remarks at a discussion titled ‘Phire Dekha: Amanul Huq with Shahidul Alam, Nasir Ali Mamun and Mofidul Hoque’ at Nalinikanta Bhattashali Gallery of Bangladesh National Museum in the capital.
The event is part of a retrospective exhibition of Amanul Huq titled ‘The Romantic Documentarian’ at the ongoing Chobi Mela, which will end today.
Shahidul Alam said that Amanul Huq created images and was aware of political issues.
‘Though the principled photographer Amanul Huq was honoured with the Ekushey Padak, a lack of state assistance eventually forced him to sell his camera to afford medical care.
Nasir Ali Mamun said that there was a tendency among the early photographers of Bangladesh to read the political and cultural change of the people as well as the country.
‘He fled to India to escape the wrath of Pakistan authority because of his historic photography he took of the dead body of language-martyr Rafiq Uddin Ahmed. There he worked with legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray but he always had a special interest in social and political movements,’ Nasir said, adding that for the lack of professional platforms, most of the photographers are forced to live a life in poverty and isolation in Bangladesh.
Mofidul Hoque said that inspired from social realism and communism, Amanul Huq portrayed mass people’s struggles, culture and movements while he was also promoting Bengali culture in his work.
‘Capturing the human conditions and decisive moments was his approach while he added his imagination with reality as his aesthetic,’ he said, adding that he covered the language movement and captured many Shahid Minar’s images across the country.
A documentary on his works, directed by Ahmed Arup Kamal, was also screened during the event.
