The Heartbeat of a Nation

The scars remain. Struggle meets hope. The raw, unbroken spirit of a new Bangladesh weaves the unspoken dreams and resilience of post-uprising Bangladesh. Some images whisper, others scream out loud, yet others point to the complex realities of governance. The need to distance ourselves from the habits of old. The desire for vengeance is real. The need to reassert a changed order is more so. In this aftermath of defiance, we paint the dawn of a rediscovered nation. As we rejoice that a tyrant has gone, it is the end of tyranny that we long to celebrate.

The resilience and the bravery of protesters risking death in the pursuit of freedom reminds us that a people prepared to sacrifice can never be subdued. We are at the cusp of a new beginning. A tormented beginning where hope is tinged with sadness. A pivotal point in our history. Every year we have celebrated the finest work of professional Bangladeshi photojournalists. Every year, taking considerable risk, we have shown on our walls images that testify to the key moments of the year gone by. We have stuck to the truth, uncomfortable though it may be.

The fall of the dictator marks a pivotal year. One that will go down in history for ushering in a new beginning. As journalists, we need to beware of the trappings of such beginnings. Of not being swayed by the euphoria to ignore the pitfalls along the path. So yet again, we have recorded not only the joy of the moment but also the errors along the way. In this celebratory mood, that decision will not be popular. But we are not in a popularity contest. We present rather the conscience of the nation.

Truths, however uncomfortable, have to be spoken. Defiant women who led the charge against autocracy and confronted the police with raw courage, are now sidelined. The grim reality of the subaltern, the acquiescence to mob rule, and the continued military presence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are some of the disturbing elements of this otherwise celebratory collection. The serenity of a religious rite, the playfulness of children, the callous exploitation of our land, the tenacity of our people to overcome natural disasters are some of the everyday scenes that depict the remarkable lives of our resilient people.

It is also a time for reckoning. While young artists came out in protest, leading intellectuals and artists were conspicuous through their silence. The solidarity of the public with Palestine jarred with the silence of the government, worried about upsetting trade partners. Triumphant sportswomen faced the backlash of patriarchy. Artwork depicting plastic waste failed to curb the wanton pollution by ‘profit at all cost’ industrialists. Long after the last fish has died and the last tree has fallen, the images will linger in our memory.

Through hope and concern, these photographs capture the heartbeat of a nation.

Shahidul Alam

Photographer, activist and curator

At only TK 500, with powerful images and poignant text, it comes with a handmade wooden hanger. A perfect gift for friends and family.

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Cover Photo: Ahasun Rifat

Published: August 21, 2025