Bangladeshi photographer Pinu Rahman has earned international recognition after winning the Pangea Prize at the Creative Photo Awards 2026 in Italy.
He also received a Highly Commended distinction at the Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA) 2026, marking a double achievement for the photographer.
Rahman secured the People category award at the Creative Photo Awards with his photograph titled “The Golden Burden”. His work “Bad Morning in a Burned Valley” earned a Highly Commended mention in the Documentary & Photojournalism category at SIPA 2026.
The awards were handed out during a ceremony held on 10 October at Teatro dei Rinnovati, a historic venue in Siena, Italy.
Speaking after the ceremony, Rahman said the opportunity to represent Bangladesh on an international stage and receive recognition in two different categories had filled him with pride and happiness.
He added that the achievement had deepened his commitment to visual storytelling and encouraged him to continue exploring stories through his camera.
Organisers reported that the three competitions under the Siena Awards programme attracted more than 40,000 photographs from 163 countries this year.
The programme’s 12th edition features the Siena International Photo Awards, Creative Photo Awards and Drone Photo Awards.
The photography festival will continue until 29 November, with exhibitions and events taking place across Siena and neighbouring areas.
The winning entries will be showcased in the principal exhibition, “People Sharing All the World”, and included in the bilingual photobook series “Beyond the Lens”.
Meanwhile, Italian photographer Stefano Rosselli received the Photographer of the Year title at SIPA 2026 for his image “Amina”, captured in Afghanistan.
Rahman has been pursuing photography since 2012, building a portfolio centred on people, society, travel and documentary storytelling.
Earlier this year, he was named Bangladesh’s National Winner at the Sony World Photography Awards 2026. His photographs have also been published by media outlets both at home and internationally.
