Samsun Nahar carefully sows seeds in the small patch of land beside her home in Ukhiya. Her hands, weathered but determined, hold the promise of a brighter future for her family, which is evident in her smile captured beautifully by the camera.
Photography can capture moments with stories of falls, rises, stumbles, and runs, just like the smile of Samsun Nahar, a woman who lives in the Rohingya camps of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
Like Samsun Nahar, there are plenty of stories from the lives of the Rohingya community, stories of family planning, child marriage, self-reliance, struggles, triumphs, and unwavering hopes exhibited in a two-day-long photography exhibition held in the capital.
This article will tell the stories of the stories captured in the camera and will transform the static messages in the expression of words.
Noor Kayes
A woman in a red hijab is standing in front of a door, half-covered with a red curtain. The curtain on the door might be a symbol of a barrier that doesn't welcome subjects like 'family planning', and the woman who is standing right in front of the curtain is Noor Kayes, a mother of three who now knows the importance of family planning go door by door to make people understand and talk just like she understood.
The exhibition's poignant images and personal narratives take the viewers into the life of Juanid, a youth from the Rohingya community.
Junaid
Junaid's innocent smile with a backdrop of electric machinery describes the skills he learned about solar panels and gas stoves, 'two lifelines' as mentioned by Junaid since they are the most important part of his refugee life.
Confined by the limitations of camp life, Junaid finds purpose in learning to repair solar panels and gas stoves. The glint of pride in his eyes reflects not just the newfound confidence he earned through learning skills.
Senu Ara
Another image showcases Senu Ara's unwavering love for her child. With concern etched on her face, Senu seeks help at an IRC health centre after her child contracts an eye infection. The image highlights the challenges faced by countless Rohingya mothers like Senu Ara.
Tanjina
The exhibition doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of the camps. One photograph depicts Tanjina Akter, a young woman who defied societal norms to pursue her education. In the picture, Tanjina is seen educating other girls; however, once, she was deprived of her education as her parents thought education was only for boys.
Shamsun Nahar
From Samsun Nahar's self-reliance and Junaid's skills to the breaking bads of Noor Kayes and Tanjina's determination, each photograph is a testament to the human spirit's enduring strength. The exhibition is a story of suffering and resilience that 'unfolds the Rohingya Crisis through the lens of hope.'
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