Page 476 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

PHOTOGRAPHY 473

University Photo Research Institute
This organization was established in 1982 with the initiative of Khan Akhter Hossain,
who was once a photojournalist. Almost 250 persons were trained here on various
certificate, basic, advanced, diploma courses in photography as well as video courses.
This organization lacked necessary materials and equipment and closed down after a
few years due to various adversities.
University Photography Academy
This organization was established by Sheikh Yaar Ahmed Pearu with the assistance of
‘Dhaka University Photography Society,’ ‘Dhaka University Studio,’ and ‘Teacher-
Student Centre’ in 1983. He was its course director and teacher. It began with a basic
course and from 1986 an advanced course was introduced. Many young men and
women, especially university students got the opportunity to learn photography
through the ‘University Photography Academy.’
Bangladesh Photographic Institute (BPI)
In 1990 BPI began its journey as the education wing of BPS and played an important
role in the dispersal of photographic education in the country. Since its establishment
(2006) BPI has completed 83 basic photography courses and 10 video courses besides
introducing a two-year diploma photographic course. In 1990 BPI received some
photographic and video equipments for their training program from the British
Council in Dhaka under a memorandum of understanding.
Ecole de Cinema
‘Ecole de Cinema’ started off in 1989 with the cooperation of Alliance Francaise, the
cultural center of France in Dhaka. Beginning its journey with a short course on
videography, this organization later went on to arrange various short, intermediate and
diploma training courses of different durations. The trainer and director is Mujib R.
Khan. Recently it has launched a diploma in photojournalism course.
Pathshala (South Asian Institute of Photography)
Pathshala, established in 1998, is the education wing of the Drik Picture Library Ltd.
It is a modern and international standard photography training institute in terms of the
equipments and materials, course curriculum, training method, etc. Besides a basic
course in photography and various diploma courses, it has introduced the first
graduate course in photography with the affiliation and recognition of the Sutherland
University of the UK. Twenty students in four batches have received graduation
certificates from this institute to date.
Prism (Training, Information and Publication on Photography)
Prism, established in 1998 is a notable photography training institution. Almost a hundred
pupils have completed the diploma course in fourteen batches till now (2005). The
founder and director of Prism, Rafiqul Islam is a distinguished writer on photography.
Besides the above mentioned establishments ‘Chanchal Mahmud School of
Photography,’ ‘Dhaka Photographic Institute,’ ‘Center for Asian Arts and Culture’