Sadarghat Dhaka | Series : Metro

Sadarghat, Dhaka’s centuries-old port, a picture of unmitigated chaos and innumerable moving lines of people intertwined in a maddening fresco of urban nightmares. A motley collage of launches from the southern districts, merchant dinghies (narrow boats) trying to trade goods on the black waters of Buriganga’s reek – a beautiful tumult, a sight to see and wonder.

 Sholoshahar station o urban kak | Series : Metro

A regional railway station, in the heart of the city, connected from the Chittagong railway station to the north, with Chittagong University (CU), Nazirhaat, and to the south, with Dohazari, an urban corridor with various vibrant activities, houses a great number of events, gathering of students and by ‘hoi polloi’. Especially, the foot-over bridge serves as a place of gathering, music and celebration of urban life.

The perspective of the painting has been taken from that foot-over bridge depicting eternity through a green corridor. Impressionist characters are conspicuous yet there is not portraying the exact light rather imaginary. Again, with the yellow as skylight, reflection is done in blue, fighting for contrast and illusion. A drenched raven, waiting on wires, was used as a metaphor for a self-portrait, during the moment of observation.

Station platform Sholoshahar | Series : Metro

“এখানে বিকল বিকেল স্টেশন

ঝুরঝুরে গল্প সব মিলিয়ে যাচ্ছে

নাগরিক হৃদয়ের করিডোর থেকে

প্লাটফর্মে প্লাটফর্মে

আচম্বিত ট্রেন হুইসেল,আমাদের জাপটে ধরে

কি যেন বলে? কি যেন বলে।।”

Ban of Baby | Series : Metro

Bangladesh has banned thousands of two-stroke three-wheelers, popularly known as Baby-Taxi, from the streets of Dhaka. While environmental campaigners have welcomed the ban, it has not been well received by the drivers. Their emotion and tension were rising with the deadline for the permit.

Bedford, সমগ্র বাংলাদেশ | Series : Metro

Bedford, a remarkable automotive company of thirties, named by a county of Britain, “Bedfordshire”. It conveys the revolutionary automobile progression during World War II. There is no continuation of the “Bedford” manufacturer today, although the engines were still in fabrication. Local body-makers crafted shapes and created a colorful landmark in “Truck- Painting” as well as “Quote designing” on European machines. “Bedford”, a living engine with a lost name.

Khatunganj | Series : Metro

Through the smell of burnt oil, and the sounds of shallow engine, including waves from Chaktai canal, boatmen repairing their boats and loading-unloading goods, hustle-bustle of buyer-sellers in the wholesale market, along with the sight of blistered yet colorful, intricately detailed buildings from the Post-Colonial era shall let you know, you have arrived in Khatunganj; one of the major wholesale and commercial area in Chattogram, Bangladesh.

A dilapidated ship| Series : Metro

Chittagong shipbreaking yard, a place where old ships from all over the world come here to sigh their last breath, last anchor of their journey. A dilapidated ship, mighty in scale, come here to rest in pieces of wreck, in the shining western sun, anticipating reincarnation.  

Pahari

A visceral equation of impasto and love; blending texture, color, light and shadows; bring upon a classic hillside ethnicity. Pallet knives and intricate brushing techniques have induced a realization of giving color to the natural instincts through the girl’s abstracted stare, making this intricate piece so special and subtle, yet so powerful.

Boat of Abdul Amin

A local boat builder, Abdul Amin, was busy crafting his boat at the island Saint Martin in the twilight. Neon-yellow lights were flashing at the dockyard at a distance.

” এখানে পৃথিবীর কোন ঘাটে

অবসরের নৌকা ঝিমায়, অচেতনে

অবসরের মেল্যূডি মিইশা যায় ডিকম্পোজড-কম্পোজিশনে

অবসরের নৌকা ঘুমায়,অচেতনে

এইখানে পৃথিবীর কোন সন্ধ্যার উঠানে..”

Mellifluous Redemption

“তিনটে’র বোট ছাইড়ে গেলো- পেটের ভেতরে ডিম ভাতের দায়সারায় ক্ষিধে চাই পা ছুটতেই, রথের ঘাট ফাঁকা। মেরাজ প্রাপ্তির আর কত দেরি মাঝি।

আমরা তখন ককেশীয়, চারমূর্তি এই উষ্ণ ভ্রান্তির দেশে আইসে যেন শিখছি ঘাম, আর ঘামের সাথে ক্লান্তির রতি।

তবু, এখানে ডাক-ব্যাগভর্তি সমস্ত অত্যাচার ছাড়িয়ে আড়াই ঘন্টার দূরত্ব থেইকা ডাকে। আমরা দিলাম ” রাইখ্যংয়ের গান”।

চার’টার বোট – আকাশে তখন মিকাঈল আর প্রাচীন নর্স দেবতার বচসায় মত্ত।

আমরা মজা লুটি মেঘের কালো মেদ আর চর্বিতে।
কিছুক্ষণেই ধুয়ে দিবে এই পৃথিবী।

আমরা গাইলাম রাইখ্যংয়ের গান।
রাইখ্যংয় দোতারা বাজিয়ে চইলে গেলো কড়ি ছাড়াছাড়ির দেশ।

বিলাইছড়ি। “

Acknowledgment:

This presentation is done in collaboration with Photographer to Critic Writer, whose co-operation made it possible in every way to arrange different types of information and inspiration in a crucial time.

Poetry contribution – Zahid Jisan (Station platform Sholoshahar, Boat of Abdul Amin, Mellifluous redemption),

Writing contribution – S.M. Tanjeen (Sadarghat Dhaka, Pahari), Sanjida Hasan Nikita (Khatunganj), Kayes Moshiur (Bedford, সমগ্র বাংলাদেশ), Ishraq Rafid (Sholoshahar station o urban kak)

Study photograph from – Taqbir Huda (Sadarghat Dhaka) ,Mahadi Pulak (Khatunganj) , Paul Shuvro ( Pahari)

Photography for documentation – M. Haider Ananda (Ban of Baby, Boat of Abdul Amin, Khatunganj)

CONTEXT contributor: Sanjida Hasan, Architecture graduate, Chittagong Univerisity of Engineering and Technology.