Trejo's 15 black and white photographs displayed for the Chobi Mela IV are riveting. Particularly effective is the snapshot of a Cuban woman through a window, while another captures a girl with a plastic sheet in the background. Explaining his philosophy, Trejo asserts, "Photography is a wonderful tool for capturing reality. I want to create a dialogue between the interior and exterior. My aim is to make bridges rather than borders. In my works I try to depict the inner and spiritual journey when one is absorbed in one's own thoughts through a window."

Trejo has had the chance to interact with Bangladeshi photographers in the course of the Chobi Mela. "My Bangladeshi counterparts have tremendous potential," he asserts, adding that he particularly admires Shahidul Alam, Saiful Haque and the renowned Indian photographer Raghu Rai. He also is of the opinion that the upcoming talent of Bangladesh has benefitted immensely from the presence of internationally reputed photographers at workshops.

Trejo is now on the move. He plans to wing his way to Nepal (Kathmandu, Bukhara, Chitwan and Nagarkot) and India (Kolkata and Mumbai). In the long run he wants to spend a few months in Bangladesh. "I need some time for taking good photographs," he says.

Another project in the pipeline is a documentary film on the visually impaired in Cuba and Mexico. Towards this end, he went so far as to cover his eyes for one month so that he could recreate the darkness of their lives. Trejo also conducted a photography workshop in Mexico last December for the visually impaired. Hats off to the socially conscious Trejo and others of his ilk who have made the Chobi Mela a success.

The Daily Star is the media partner of the festival.