Autograph, London

Bangladesh 1971

4 Apr – 31 May 2008

Past exhibition

A photographic exhibition and film season that focuses on one of South Asia’s most significant political events: the foundation of Bangladesh as an independent state

ADDRESS

Address

Autograph
Rivington Place
London EC2A 3BA, UK

past exhibition

This exhibition is now closed. View our current exhibitions here

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

The Bangladesh war of independence in 1971 was one of the bloodiest conflicts in living memory. In an attempt to crush forces seeking independence for what was then East Pakistan, the West Pakistani military regime unleashed a systematic campaign of violence that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Bangalis. Many of the photographs from the unique collection of the Drik archives will be shown in the UK for the first time.

In 266 days Bangali, hill people and Adivasi resistance fighters and their allies defeated the military forces of Pakistan. The result was the birth of a new nation - Bangladesh - and the dismemberment of Pakistan. It was only after the 16th of December 1971 when Pakistani troops surrendered in East Pakistan, that Bangladeshis began to realise the scale of the atrocities committed during the previous nine months.

1971 was a year of national and international crisis in South Asia. The history of Bangladesh is implicitly tied to the partition of India in 1947 and therefore the tragic events of 1971 are linked to Britain’s colonial past. For Bangladesh, ravaged by the war and subsequent political turmoil, it has been a difficult task to reconstruct its own history. It is only during the last few years that this important Bangladeshi photographic history has begun to emerge.

Now decades after the war, Autograph ABP in collaboration with Drik presents a historical photographic overview of Bangladesh 1971 at Rivington Place.

Photographers included in the exhibition: Abdul Hamid Raihan, Aftab Ahmed, BegArt Collection, Golam Mawla, Jalaluddin Haider, Mohammad Shafi , Naib Uddin Ahmed, Rashid Talukder, Sayeeda Khanom and Bal Krishnan.

Film makers included in the exhibition: Shohel Mazumder, Zhuntu Chakman, Khalid Mahmood Mithu and the Rainbow Film Society.

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

Retired army officers gather to pledge allegiance to the war of independence

Victorious freedom fighters return with victory after a nine-month-long Liberation War

A sea of people move to attend the historic speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Outraged artists hold placards bearing the bangla letters Sha Dhi Na Ta (independence)

Acknowledgements

The exhibition is accompanied by the Bangladesh 1971 Film Season throughout April 2008 in partnership with Rich Mix and The Rainbow Film Society.

Banner image: Protesting students of Awami League, on the streets of Dhaka. 1971. Photo: Rashid Talukder/Drik/Majority World.

Preview: 1) Retired army officers under the leadership of General M.A.G. Osmani (middle) gather at Baitul Mukarram, to pledge allegiance to the war of independence. Dhaka. March 22, 1971. Photo: Jalaluddin Haider /Drik/Majority World. 2) Victorious freedom fighters return with victory after a nine-month-long Liberation War. Bangladesh. December 1971. Photo: Jalaluddin Haider /Drik/Majority World. 3) A sea of people move towards Ramna Racecourse, now Suhrawardy Udyan, to attend the historic speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 7th of March. Dhaka. 1971. Photo: Rashid Talukder/Drik/Majority World. 4) Outraged artists hold placards bearing the bangla letters Sha Dhi Na Ta (independence) protesting the postponement of the opening of the National Assembly by President Yahya Khan on March 1, 1971. Dhaka. Photo: Rashid Talukder/Drik/Majority World.