Emerging CDP Photographer Award January 9, 2010
Posted by bohdan.warchomij in : Bangladesh, Documentary, Griffith University, Photojournalism, Publishing, The Cenre for Documentary Practice , trackbackThe CDP Emerging Documentist Award
The Centre for Documentary Practice has announced Khaled Hasan as the winner of the first CDP Emerging Documentist Award, sponsored by Canon Australia. Hasan’s story, Living Stone, documents the lives of a community of stone labourers in Jaflong, in North Eastern Bangladesh.
Living Stone was selected by judges Paul Fusco, Ed Kashi and David Lloyd who commended Hasan for his “beautiful and hauntingly powerful photography about a compelling story” and the way he “used the language of photography to make us feel and understand the lives and land of the people”. The prize, a Canon EOS 5D Mark II Premium Kit, donated by Canon Australia, will allow Hasan to continue his social activism through documentary practice.
There were over 250 entries for the Award, documenting important social justice issues across the world. Although these stories document injustice in this world, it was heartening to know that there are so many passionate and committed people, looking to give a voice to the marginalised and the vulnerable.
- Living Stone Photo Khaled Hasan
Living Stone by Khaled Hasan
This story from Bangladesh is about the community of Jaflong, which is located in North-Eastern Bangladesh. During the monsoon, the river currents wash down precious rocks and pebbles from India into Jaflong. At dawn everyday more than a hundred boats with labourers aboard enter the Piyain River, buckets and spades in hand.
The stone haul from India is decreasing and the labourers run the risk of invading the ‘no man’s land’ along the Indo-Bangla border. Many labourers have been killed by the Indian Border Security Force. Over 5000 men, women and children are engaged in stone labour with no legal or human rights protection.
The Bangladeshi government has failed to take any measures to prevent the stone crushing industry at Jaflong and the high erosian rate, which threatens the villages of the Khasia (indigenous people) in the area. Uncontrolled stone extraction and crushing poses a serious threat to public health, the environment, and agriculture in the area
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