The solo photography exhibition titled “Cha Chakra: Tea Tales of Bangladesh” by Faiham Ebna Sharif has begun at La Galerie, . Alliance Française de Dhaka. The inaugural ceremony of this exhibition was held on Friday, 19 January .Ambassador of France to Bangladesh H.E Mrs. Marie-Annick BOURDIN graced the occasion as chief guest. Prof. Dr. Fakrul Alam, pro-vice chancellor of East West University, Afroza Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment and renowned freelance photographer Hasan Saifuddin Chandan also presented as special guests while retired tea garden worker Mohabir Kal attended the occasion as the guest of honour.
Faiham Ebna Sharif has been working on the documentation of the tea garden workers and their communities since November, 2015. There are around 162 tea gardens in Bangladesh and the workforce comprises approximately 90 different ethnic communities with diverse religious and cultural beliefs. Most of the tea garden workers were brought to Bangladesh by British East India Company from Bihar, Madras, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and other places in India during 1840-50.
Majority of the country’s tea estates lies in the north-eastern corner of Bangladesh and Faiham has been spending extensive times in different tea estates in Habiganj, Maulovi Bazaar, Sri Mangal and Sylhet. Apart from collecting historical documents, Faiham has been capturing the tea community as well as the social, cultural, political and economical life of tea garden workers. A total of 48 photographs will be exhibited during the exhibition, which will be continued till 26 January 2018. There will also be an online exhibition simultaneously. The photography exhibition will also be held in the tea garden in Habiganj in February as well. A publication will also be launched at the opening ceremony containing photographs and history of the tea garden workers.
This is the first solo photography exhibition of Faiham Ebna Sharif, who finished his honors and masters in International Relations from University of Dhaka before taking One Year Diploma in Photography from Counter Foto. He also contributed in two group photography exhibitions at University of Dhaka in February, 2016 and at the Chandpore Tea Garden in March, 2017.
This project is supported by Magnum Foundation and The Documentary Project Fund.
The exhibition will be open to all till Friday, 26 January 2018 at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka. Visiting Hours: Monday to Thursday from 3:00pm to 9:00pm, Friday and Saturday (9:00 am to12:00 noon and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm). Closed on Sunday. – AF, Dhaka Press release
