A platform for photographers

Visitors at a photo exhibition organised by Ashis (top). A photo taken during the Liberation War preserved at the Ashis Library.Photo: STAR

Alokchitra Shilpi Sangsad (Ashis) has produced many talented photographers over the last three decades.
Internationally reputed photographer Nayeb Uddin Ahmed and nationally acclaimed Mohammad Nawab Ali, the then chief and assistant photographers of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) respectively took the lead in establishing a training institute for photography. Ashis started its journey on January 29, 1978 and opened its doors to creative and aspiring photographers.
Ashis, situated on Eshan Chakrabarti Road, started a three-month course in photography in 1980. So far Ashis has conducted training courses of its 15th batch rendering training to some 400 young people including 125 students of colleges and universities.
Eminent photographers of the country like Dr. Nawazesh Ahmed; former Vice Chancellor of BAU, Dr. Shah Mohammed Faruq; Nayeb Uddin Ahmed; Mohammad Nawab Ali; M.A. Beg; Mrinal Sarker; Professor Shahidul Islam and Professor Yusuf Chowdhury of BAU have conducted trainings.
Ashis regularly organises photography exhibitions featuring contemporary and rare collections along with competitions marking various national days such as Victory Day, Independence Day, World Photography Day, International Mother Language Day and Pahela Baishakh. Ashis has so far organised 15 photography exhibitions and competitions including three at national level. "Open Photography Exhibition" (in 1978), "Portrait and Nature" (in 1978), "Children of Bangladesh" (in 1979) -- national level programme supported by UNICEF, "Open Photography Exhibition and Competition" (in 1980), "Mother and Children" (in 1982), "Loksangskriti" (in 1985), "Janojiban" (in 1987), "Nature" (in 1987), "Pathkoli" (in 1990), "Rupashi Bangla" (in 1994) and "Muktijuddha" (in 2007) are some of the programmes organised by Ashis.
Ashis also organised a seminar on "To curb drugs and people's participation in cleanliness drive" on July 10 this year. Local municipality rendered all out support in organising the seminar. Ashis also observed World Photography Day on August 19 this year.
Ashis will start a weeklong course on photography this year. It will also start short courses on digital photography this year, said A.H.M. Motalab, secretary of Ashis. He also said that they would organise elaborate programmes in December this year. The programmes will include a photography exhibition and competition, seminar and debate competition on photography and workshop on the importance of the medium.
According to sources, M. Shafiul Alam, the then deputy commissioner of Mymensingh arranged two decimals of land for Ashis in 1978. Later all the deputy commissioners posted at Mymensingh were patrons of this institution.
Now Ashis needs more infrastructure developments and training to firm up its activities, Ashis President Mohammad Nawab Ali said.