Buk Petechi Guli Kor: A photo diary of resistance and triumph

As the only spectator at Drik gallery, by virtue of arriving 30 minutes before the gates were open to the public, I took two rounds of the photo exhibition honouring our students. 

It felt less like a typical exhibition and more like a walk through a shared photo diary. The gallery showcased the timeline from 16 July and ran until '36 July', capturing the journey of what our students endured and overcame in their pursuit of freedom.

The photos displayed at Drik's 'Buk Petechi Guli Kor' exhibition were not unfamiliar to the citizens of our country as we saw, posted, and shared them countless times. It aimed to refresh our memories of what the country witnessed during those 20 days.

"The exhibition was segmented into three sections— Protibad (Protest), Protirodh (Resist), and Bijoy (Victory) —of the revolution our students spearheaded. We wanted to keep photo evidence of their journey," said ASM Rezaur Rahman, the General Manager of Drik.

The resistance portion of the exhibition was incredibly difficult to witness. Some of the photos, though not widely circulated online, deserve to be shown to a broader audience due to the sheer dark reality they entailed.

"The struggles of the past were tough for all of us, and we must always remember the sacrifices that brought us to where we are now," emphasised Rezaur.

One wall featured a massive photo of students marching triumphantly, and visitors often spotted their friends and classmates among the crowd.

During those days, citizen journalism peaked and helped spread the truth that mass media deliberately kept in the dark. 

The photos were displayed chronologically and although there were many submissions, not all photos made it to the walls of Drik. This was due to the lack of time the curators had on their hands. The photo exhibition aimed to show people the aftermath of a historic event.

"We are currently working on a book for all the photos that were submitted. The photos presented at this exhibition are mostly from Dhaka. However, in the book, we aim to showcase photos from all over Bangladesh. Work is already in progress and we are striving to launch it by this year. We believe that the finest method to preserve history is through photos," he further shared.

Of the 115 impactful photos, some are of high quality while others were taken on phones or are screenshots from YouTube videos. Yet, the exhibition's message is undeterred: their sacrifice must never be forgotten.

The photographs offer various perspectives of the resistance, showcasing both the victims and their struggles. These images, from police violence to scenes of jubilant crowds after the fall of the autocratic regime, chronicle the harsh yet defining moments of the revolution. Each photograph has a clear caption in Bangla and English for both locals and foreigners to understand.

Previously, another exhibition, 'Cartoon e Bidroho,' was hosted at Drik Gallery in mid-August. It showcased the role of satire and cartoons in the movement, reflecting the courage of younger artists who defied censorship to inspire change.

The next exhibition honouring our warriors will be hosted at Drik in November. This time, it will showcase all the graffiti embellishing the walls of Dhaka, serving as a constant reminder of our losses and the potential achievable through unity.

Originally planned for a two-week run, the exhibition was extended due to its immense popularity and called curtains on 29 September.