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Case study: Interview with Shafiqul Alam
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Photo: Shafiqul Alam/Oxfam
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Shafiqul Alam is a photographer who has worked for many newspapers
and magazines. He has always lived and worked in Bangladesh.
"In 1991, there was a big cyclone in Bangladesh. I worked
at a photographic agency. One day we collected many magazines together
and spread them out on the floor. We wanted to see what pictures
magazines were showing about the cyclone.
We got the impression from looking at the photos that Bangladesh
had been totally destroyed. We realised that this was not true,
and began to try and do something to change this. I travelled to
the cyclone area and took so many photos of people surviving. They
were rebuilding their houses and preparing their fields. But we
found that many magazines abroad weren’t so interested in getting
these pictures.
There were big differences between what local papers showed in
Bangladesh and what was shown abroad. I think that newspaper readers
abroad are more interested in disaster stories. That’s painful
for me. Of course, that is part of the whole picture, but only one
part. The other part that doesn’t get shown so much is that
people in Bangladesh are really strong in spirit and stand up to
what they face. When I take photos I want to say ‘look at the
people and their strengths’.
As a local person I feel that I can cover stories in a way which
would not be possible for outsiders. I speak the language. I know
how to get to places. Most foreign photographers and journalists
come for a very short time and they stay in the city where costs
are very high.
My feelings about my job are probably different from someone who
is not a Bangladeshi. Maybe others might see their assignment here
as 'just another job'. But this is my country. I am proud of it
and so I always try and find something positive.
I also feel that I have an important responsibility. A photograph
can show the truth or it can hide it. My work can change the way
people see Bangladesh."
Lesson plans: Activities using the media
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