This is a photograph from my Life Along the Coastline series. This part of the project was funded by the Dutch Embassy in Bangladesh. They actually gave me the money to cover their project areas which was in the coastal belt. I was supposed to show what " Water Management" is and how it is changing the social discourse in the area. Like any other projects , I decided to make it my "own" story by NOT using the typical NGO visuals, whatever that is.
So I was looking for my own photographs which would somehow will also talk about the Embassy project. I was then photographing an old man and was trying to get some portraits which was not working at all. I was naturally very disgusted at that moment. I was trying to use the window light . And suddenly I felt the window in my back is covered by someone , light was not coming. I became even more disgusted . I looked back. The boy was standing in window , with a bird on his shoulder. What more a photographer can ask for !
As we know the whole idea of this " Development is imported ". The foreign aid would come and then some so called consultants, most of whom would be again foreigners who has no understanding of the class, culture, history and politics of this country would decide what is best for Bangladesh! In most of the cases it is a one way traffic , they would never ask our opinions. People will just have to listen to what they say!
I was interviewing this boy, asking him about the project, what he does and everything and anything while I was taking photographs. Then suddenly he said this, obviously in Bengali -" Sir we always listen to you, we do whatever the government ask us to do, but will you listen to me ? "
And this is the story behind the photograph.
I really like this picture, and the entire Saiful portfolio. Important stories - great work.
/ GD, 2009-10-15