A special exhibition at the 11th edition of Chobi Mela (CM XI) has brought renewed attention to women’s crucial yet often overlooked role in the July 2024 uprising.
On the third day of the festival, a guided tour of the exhibition titled ‘Women in the July Uprising: Essential Then, Why Erased Now?’ took place this morning at the South Plaza of the Bangladesh National Parliament on Manik Mia Avenue.
The exhibition revisits women’s frontline participation during the uprising and questions their absence from public narratives in the aftermath of the fallen autocracy.
Michael Miller, Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh and Head of the EU Delegation, attended the event as the special guest.
Festival chief adviser Shahidul Alam, festival director ASM Rezaur Rahman, artistic director Munem Wasif, exhibition researcher and photographer Jannatul Mawa, and participating photographers were also present.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Miller said open and democratic societies form the foundation of resilience, prosperity and security. He stressed that women’s participation remains essential in both Europe and Bangladesh.
He added that the photographs restore women’s visibility as individuals with agency and courage. The exhibition, he said, calls for equal space for women in civic life, political processes, media narratives and institutions. The European Union is a partner of Chobi Mela XI.
Explaining the choice of venue, Shahidul Alam said Chobi Mela had previously organised mobile exhibitions to reach wider audiences. “This time, we felt that if people do not come to the gallery, the gallery must come to them,” he said.
He noted that the parliament backdrop holds symbolic value, as the exhibition reflects the spirit of the uprising at a time when the country is striving to reclaim its democracy.
Jannatul Mawa said women who played active roles throughout the movement have been systematically erased since August 5. She described their exclusion from nation-building as inconceivable in a country where women make up half of the population.
She also alleged that some political parties had deliberately sidelined women in an attempt to push them back into traditional domestic roles. “The movement is far from over, and our struggle continues,” she added.
Sharing her field experience, photographer Joyeeta Roy said the situation grew increasingly dangerous as the movement progressed. She noted that the risks affected not only women and photographers, but everyone involved.
Despite the dangers, Roy said photographers continued documenting events to tell the stories as they unfolded.
The exhibition features works by 25 photographers, including Abdul Goni, Apon Biswas, Ashraful Alom, Derril Audri Roy, Dipu Malakar, Fatima Tuj Johora, Habibul Haque, Istiak Karim (Drik), Jibon Ahmed, Joyeeta Roy, Tarik Rahman Emon, Md Sofiqul Islam, Mohammad Jubair, Rajib Dhar, Rayhan Ahmed, Rohet Ali Rajib, Sawrav Das, Sony Ramany, Sultan Mahmud Mukut (Drik), Suvra Kanti Das and Taslima Akhter.
Spanning 16 days, Chobi Mela XI is presenting nine exhibitions across five venues in Dhaka: the Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Française de Dhaka, DrikPath Bhaban and the National Parliament.
This edition brings together 58 participants from 18 countries across five continents under the theme ‘Re’.
The festival also includes six intensive workshops and an educational outreach programme from January 25 to 29, engaging around 1,000 schoolchildren.
Chobi Mela XI will continue until January 31, 2026, welcoming visitors from all walks of life to explore its exhibitions and events.
