World Press Photo Exhibition 2024, an outcome of the 67th annual World Press Photo Contest, began on Friday at Drik Gallery in the capital.
The exhibition documents some of the most pressing issues facing the world today.
The documents range from devastating conflicts and political upheaval down to the climate crisis and the safe passage of migrants.聽
The exhibition was inaugurated by the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Irma van Dueren while the United Nations Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion Irene Khan and Drik Picture Library managing director Shahidul Alam spoke at the event.
The event was moderated by coordinator for the Asian region of World Press Photo Contest 2024 ASM Rezaur Rahman.
鈥榃e are organising the exhibition here because the media is so essential for a country to develop democracy and freedom at a time when freedom of speech and democracy are in tremendous shape across the globe,鈥� Shahidul Alam said, adding that through this exhibition they celebrate press freedom in Bangladesh for democracy.
鈥楶hotography has the power to build a new generation. Besides art and journalism, photography expresses solidarity with humanity,鈥� Irene Khan said, adding that if the freedom of expression does not work, nothing will work for education, elections, the economy, social rights, or political rights.
鈥榃e see that most journalists do not have access to technology, but a very strong message through their images,鈥� said Irma van Dueren in her inaugural speech.
The 2024 World Press Photo Contest worked in six worldwide regions 鈥� Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia and Oceania.
The 2024 exhibition was premiered at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on April 19 this year, before starting its global tour.
The exhibition showcases photo stories of 24 winners, six honorable mentions, and two jury special mentions chosen from among 61,062 entries by 3851 photographers from 130 countries.
The exhibition will run until November 14, 2024.
