'Bangabandhu' extravaganza at Nasir Ali Mamun’s solo exhibition
There are around unique 25 photographs of Bangabandhu on display at the exhibition
Verteran portrait photographer Nasir Ali Mamun's 59th solo photography exhibition, "Joy Bangabandhu" takes the viewers on voyage to the history. The on-going exhibition showcases previously unpublished and historic photographs of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
There are around unique 25 photographs of Bangabandhu on display at the exhibition. Nasir Ali Mamun captured some rare historical moments through the displayed photos.
There is a huge portrait of Bangabandhu at the exhibition in which he is seen praying for the deceased souls who were killed by the Pakistani miliray in Tongi in 1971. Many former Awami league leaders and iconic political figures like Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad can be seen in the displayed photos as well.
Dedicated to the freedom fighters of Bangladesh, this exhibition has been organised on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka in Dhanmondi.
Speaking with the Business Standard about the exhibtion, Nasir Ali Mamun walked down the memory lane and said, "I was a 17-year-old boy back then when I took these photos on March 3 in 1971. It was a public gathering at Paltan. At that time, Pakistani military and police fired and killed many people in Tongi. The gathering was a protest against such atrocious act."
"As I was very young, I did not have my own camera, I rented out a camera from studio Nihar to take photos. Getting the camera was not an easy task."
"Amature photographers were bullied by senior photographera while taking photos at such big events, thus, I could not stay that long at the event," he added.
Mamun also informed us about the camera he used to take those photos.
"I somehow managed to capture those historical moments using 120 Yashica box camera, model 635."
"It could take 12 photos."
About Nasir Ali Mamun
Known as 'the poet with the camera,' Nasir Ali Mamun is celebrated as the founder of portrait photography in Bangladesh.
Born on July 1, 1953 in Dhaka, he is best known for his extraordinary and soul-searing portraits of celebrities from a diverse background, including arts and politics.
In the career spanning for five decades, he mostly captured rare emotions of iconic figures through black and white photography.
Nasir Ali Mamun works have been exhibited at 58 solo photography exhibitions and he has fifteen publications to his credit.
He is currently working to establish of Photoseum, a photography based museum based in Bangladesh.
The exhibition will be open for all till March 24. Jean-Marin Schuh, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest while eminent artist Shahabuddin Ahmed also attended the event as the guest of honour on Friday.
