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conduct a variety of courses on photography. The late photojournalist Saidur
Rahman had also initiated a training program. 125 ‘Alokchitram,’ the education wing
of the ‘Chittagong Institute of Photography’ was initiated through the efforts of
Mrinal Sarker in 1992. ‘Portrait Photography Training Center’ (1993) and ‘Photo
Art Institute’ (established by the photojournalist Shoeb Faruque) and ‘Viewfinder
Photographic Institute’ were also established in Chittagong. These organizations
are basically around a particular oriented person and are mostly incomplete in
terms of equipment and infrastructure. However, the contribution of these
organizations to the dispersion of institutional education in the field of
photography is undeniable.
Among government institutions, Press Institute of Bangladesh has organized eight
workshops on different aspects of photojournalism since its inception in 1976 to date
(2005). 126 The ‘National Institute of Mass Communication’ launched a short term
training course for photographers working in various government and private
organizations entitled ‘Photojournalism Method and Technique’ from 2003 and has
completed three courses to date (2005). The Mass Communication and Journalism
Department of the Dhaka University has included an optional course on
photojournalism in their post-graduate curriculum. This course is conducted by
departmental teacher Mofizur Rhaman on a full-time and eminent photojournalist
Kazi Rownak Jahan on a part-time basis. Moreover, Stamford University Bangladesh
established privately, has recently introduced a course on photography.
11.0 Publications and Writings on Photography
11.1 Books
There has been relatively less written on photography in Bangladesh. In pre-
liberation Bangladesh a book named Camera published by Camera Recreation Club
and edited by Golam Kashem Dady was the first book on photography to be
published in the country. 127 Later two other books by him were published.
Alokchitracharya M.A. Beg wrote many original articles on photography, particularly
its technical aspects in different journals and newspapers of the country since the 50s.
He has eight published books on photography. His book, Adhunik Photography
(Kolkata, 1974) touches on various issues of the modern technology and aesthetics of
photography and was very well-received and popular. Photography Barshiki 1979
was edited by Jahangir Selim and published by BPS in 1979. It gives a general picture
of various aspects of photography of the country. Its editor Jahangir Selim compiled
a history-based book in 2002 entitled Alokchitracharya Manzur Alam Beg O
Samakalin Alokchitrer Bibartan. At the end of the nineties photographer Rafiul Islam
wrote a few noteworthy books on the subject. His book Photography Kalakaushal O
Manan was widely acclaimed. Moreover, there have been some more books
published on the subject. Overall, following is the chronological chart of books
published on photography in Bangladesh: