The fifth edition of the Bangladesh Press Photo Exhibition 2026, organised by Drik Picture Library, officially opened on Friday (31 July) at DrikPath Bhaban in Panthapath, Dhaka.
The opening ceremony featured the presentation of awards for the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest (BPPC) 2026 alongside the inauguration of the exhibition.
The competition began in June this year with a nationwide call for photographs taken during 2025.
A total of 202 photojournalists representing media organisations across Bangladesh submitted nearly 1,600 photographs covering politics, the economy, society, culture, nature and documentary photography.
From these entries, 32 photographs were selected for this year’s exhibition.
Drik Picture Library launched the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest in 2021 to celebrate the professionalism, skill and courage of the country’s photojournalists.
The competition has now reached its fifth consecutive edition.
This year’s Picture of the Year 2025 award was won by Sazid Hossain, Deputy Head of Photography at Prothom Alo.
In the Public Interest Journalism and Politics categories, Md Mazharul Islam, Photojournalist at the Daily Times of Bangladesh, emerged as the winner, while Md Mahmud Zaman, Head of Photography at the Daily Times of Bangladesh, received a Special Mention in the same categories.
In the Arts, Culture and Sports category, Tanvin Tamim, Sports Photojournalist at the Daily Sun, claimed the top prize, while Abdul Goni, formerly of The Daily Ittefaq and currently working at Daily Waada, received the Special Mention award.
The overall winner received Tk100,000, while category winners were awarded Tk50,000 each. Special Mention recipients received Tk10,000, along with commemorative plaques and certificates.
Under the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest’s Indigenous Peoples Grant 2026, indigenous photographer Mong Hai Shing Marma from Bandarban was selected as this year’s grant recipient.
The exhibition also showcases photographs by Jajong Nokrek, who received the grant in 2025.
As part of the programme, Mong Hai Shing Marma will receive financial support, year-long mentorship and an opportunity to exhibit his work at the Bangladesh Press Photo Exhibition 2027.
The judging panel comprised Buddhajyoti Chakma, photographer and writer at Prothom Alo; Dina Hossain, Assistant Professor of Practice at the BRAC University School of General Education and documentary filmmaker; Munir Uz Zaman, photojournalist with Agence France-Presse (AFP); and renowned photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, founder of Drik.
Delivering the welcome address, Shahidul Alam reflected on the challenges faced by photojournalists.
“When politicians plant trees, they are pleased when we photograph them. But when they carry out repression and we document it, they turn against us and we become targets. Their behaviour changes, yet we continue doing our work,” he said.
He added that the competition was established to recognise the contribution of photojournalists, whose work often goes underappreciated despite the risks they take while reporting from the front lines.
Speaking on behalf of the jury, Buddhajyoti Chakma and Dina Hossain shared their experiences, highlighting the diversity of the submissions, the inclusion of indigenous photographers and the strong political representation of women in this year’s selected works.
Special guest Kamal Ahmed, Consulting Editor of The Daily Star and former head of the Media Reform Commission under Bangladesh’s interim government, emphasised the need to safeguard journalists’ rights.
“We recommended establishing an independent Media Commission to protect the rights and safety of media professionals. We hope the elected government will now take the initiative to implement that recommendation,” he said.
As in previous years, the exhibition has been curated by ASM Rezaur Rahman, General Manager of Drik, who also hosted the opening ceremony.
The 13-day exhibition will continue until 12 August 2026 and will remain open to the public every day from 3pm to 8pm.
