DrikNewsletterJan-Mar., 2014

Drik documentedGuinness World Record

A rendezvous with Drik...

Drik became a part of history and documented

the moment of creating yet another World

Record. To recreate the spirit of nationalism on

26th March, 2014 during the 43rd Independence

Day of Bangladesh; 254,681 people gathered

at the National Parade Ground to sing the

national anthem; “Amar Sonar Bangla, Ami tomay

Bhalobashi”. Drik has been assigned to capture

this glorious moment of most people singing

the national anthem simultaneously which is

a new Guinness World Record. Lakho Konthe

Shonar Bangla was organized jointly by Ministry

of Cultural Affairs and Armed Forces Division.

Previously, Drik documented the other World

Record of largest human flag event Laal Shobuj er

Bishho Joy on December 16, 2013.

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1. Drik photography team to recce the venue, National Parade Ground.

Photo: Wahid Adnan/Drik

2. People from all walks of life gathered at the National Parade Ground to create history.

Photo: Wahid Adnan/Drik

3. A small fraction of the patriots gathered at the Nationl Parade Ground.

Photo: Habibul Haque/Drik

4. Photographer Muhammad Aminuzzaman preparing to get on the helicopter for aerial photography.

Photo: Tapash Paul /Drik

5. Panoramic view of the event which was used as official photo at the Guinness World

Record website. Photo: Shahidul Alam/Drik

Drik participated at the Dhaka Art Summit 2014. Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) is a Bi - Annual Art Festival organized by Samdani Art Foundation and was held from 7-9 February 2014. The 2nd edition of the Summit focused on the South Asian region and highlighted its vibrant contemporary art scene. DAS featured five exhibitions curated by local and international curators. The photographic project LIFE BLOOD was curated by independent curator Rosa Maria Malvo, where Drik was instrumental in production, design and setting up. Seven Bangladeshi photographers Abir Abdullah, Shahidul Alam, Saiful Haq Omi, Khaled Hasan, Rasel Chowdhury, Mrittik Munir's works were on display. Drik also had a booth where fine art vintage prints from Bangladesh were displayed.

Drik

Dhaka Art Summit 2014@

Gallery display from "Life Blood" curated by Rosa Maria Malvo

Drik partnered with

Robi Photo School

Drik and Robi Axiata Limited jointly initiated the first online photo school on Robi’s Facebook page which was followed by an online photography competition. A photo exhibition was also on display at Drik Gallery.

The online photo school included short video tutorials by Drik photographer Shahidul Alam and was posted on Robi’s Facebook Page. The video tutorials offered tricks and tips on photography. Each video had separate theme like portrait, street photography,

daily life, landscape and so on. The photography lessons provided by Shahidul Alam helped budding photographers and amateurs to grow. This initiative undoubtedly has been a resounding success as it achieved its primary objective of helping aspiring photographers improve their skills.

Photography exhibition from Robi Photo School

A three-daylong Hay Festival was held at the Bangla Academy in Dhaka from 14-16 November 2013; the festival was held for the third time in Bangladesh. Drik was a partner of the festival; it documented the three-daylong event and organized a photographic exhibition titled “A Campaign for Social Change.” A book stall with Drik’s publications, including My Journey as a Witness by Shahidul Alam, Positive Lights, The Birth Pangs of a Nation, edited by Shahidul Alam, attracted the interest of many participants and visitors.

Tortured Truths, the latest publication of Drik, was launched at the festival in the session ‘To the Edge.’ The book is a collection of columns and a public lecture published in the English daily New Age by celebrated columnist and writer Rahnuma Ahmed. Scholar, dance pioneer and freedom fighter Lubna Marium congratulated New Age for its courage in publishing her columns, while Indian graphic novelist Sarnath Bannerjee, the other panelist at the book launch, described Rahnuma’s writing as being “brutal,” adding that he wished he could write like her.

Drik

Hay Festival @

Panelists at Hay Festival Drik's Exhibition at Hay on 24 years of its visual journey

Maria Conceicao, a Portuguese, Guinness World Record holder has set an aim to gather $1 million dollars for her initiative “Maria Cristina Foundation”. She took 777 Marathon Challenge; 7 ultra-marathons, in 7 continents in less than 7 weeks; to achieve her aim. She undertook this grueling challenge in an attempt to raise global awareness and urgently needed funds for her foundation, which has been helping the underprivileged slum dwellers in Dhaka to break the vicious cycle of poverty by providing education and empowerment opportunities for the pastnine years.

Drik extended its support as a media partner of Maria’s 777 ultra-marathon challenge has not kept any stone unturned to give Maria and her mission enough exposure on the media of Bangladesh.

Drik organized a press conference at the successful completion of Maria’s 777 ultra-marathon challenge on March 15, 2014. Journalists have shown immense interest and covered the press conference with a lot of enthusiasm. Drik is also creating a documentary film on Maria’s activity and her 777 ultra-marathon journey. We hope, Maria's dream to

bring smile on the faces of the under privileged slum children of Bangladesh will be fulfilled.

To know more please log on to:www.mariacristinafoundation.org

Official Media Partner: Maria

777 Ultra Marathon Challenge

Maria Conceicao speaks at the press conference

Drik celebrated rebranding of its photo library, Drik Images, through the launch of its website www.drikimages.com.

Drik Images introduced an online purchase option for the first time through its website. The website will display photographs from its growing collection and superb quality contents.

Pioneering photo agency in South Asia, Drik Images is a rich source of stock photos. It provides photographs in different categories to cater publishing needs. The library hosts the finest historical photographic archive of South Asia, containing images from 1920’s to Liberation War of Bangladesh. Our pioneers and more than two hundred young Bangladeshi talented photographers have enriched the collection.

Drik is working in partnership with Tindercapital on OPEN project. Rural Visual Journalism Network (RVJN) with its wide spread network in 64 districts is working as a facilitator by identifying the rural ethical entrepreneurs of Bangladesh through a contest. The contest winners will be funded by Tindercapital to run their business.

Four divisional level workshops titled “Briefing Open Scouts” in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Bogra is organized with the help of RVJN correspondents in January and February 2014. In this workshop district correspondents of RVJN gained knowledge on rural businesses and how to find ethical business potentials from rural entrepreneurs. Drik also designed and created communication and promotional materials for OPEN project.

Drik Imageslaunched website with online photo sale option

www.drikimages.com

OPEN Project

Md. Kamal Hossen, Network Coordinator RVJN and Jerry Nicholson, Managing Director Tindercapital discussing with potential entrepreneurs at OPEN workshop.

SUCCESS STORY

Winning Days Japan InternationalPhoto Journalism Award

Pathshala photographers go to winWorld Press Photo Award 2014

KM Asad contributory photographer of Drik Images, makes Drik proud by winning an award under the category of Theme of Defending and Advocating Dignity of Human Beings and Nature.

Photo: KM Asad/Drik2nd Prize

Rahul Talukder and Taslima Akhter won internationally acclaimed competition World Press Photo Award 2014.

Photo : Rahul Talukder3rd prize, Photo Sotries

Photo: Taslima AkhterSpot News, 3rd prize, Single

Drik signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Killid Group of Afghanistan aiming to enhance cooperation in the field of media and communications. The Killid Group (TKG) is an independent Afghan public media group which wants cooperation of Drik’s RVJN team to foster training program to their local journalists on Drik’s new innovation of incorporating Apple iPod touch technologies in journalism.

Riccardo Alberto Grassi, Director and Abdul Qyuayum Wafa, Co-Director of Media Development Division of Killid Group, and Shahidul Alam, founder & Managing Director of Drik and Saiful Islam, CEO of Drik signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.

Drik signs MoU withAfghan media The Killid Group (TKG)

From left to right:

Saiful IslamCEO, Drik

Abdul Qyuayum WafaCo-Director, Media Development Division of Killid Group

Riccardo Alberto GrassiDirector, Killid Group

Shahidul AlamManaging Director, Drik

Katalyst to change the voice of people through “Voices of Change”

Drik produces 2014 Calendars for leading corporates

Drik made an extra ordinary effort to come up with a unique design of the New Year’s calendar for both Citycell Telecom and Partex Star Group. The magnificent photographs and spectacular design were acclaimed byall the stakeholders.

Drik partnered with Katalyst to bring its latest publication “Voices of Change”, in February, 2014. It is a book that brings all stories that are representative of the wide range of Katalyst’s work across Bangladesh. The design, production and all the photographs catered in the book are a heart and soul effort of Drik.

The label of “Poor Country” needs to be removed. Drik organized a meeting on March 13, 2014 at Drik Conference Room with the photography associations of Bangladesh to exchange opinion and see whether there is any scope to publish a series of photography book on the positive aspects of Bangladesh. The aim is to bring change in the thought process of people about

Bangladesh and show a progressive Bangladesh to the world. Shahidul Alam, Managing Director Drik and Saiful Islam, CEO of Drik were among the discussion panel. All the high officials of Drik were present during the meeting.

Drik connects with thephotography clubs of Bangladesh

World Press Photo (WPP) representative experiences RVJN’s activities at Bogra

World Press Photo (WPP) representative Joyce Lagerweij experienced the Rural Visual Journalism Network (RVJN) activities in Bogra from 08 to 09 March, 2014. During her visit, she had sessions with local district correspondents of RVJN and watched their reporting activities.

Photo: Md. Monirul Islam /Drik

REHAB brought Dhaka cityscape under Drik’s Lens

Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) commissioned Drik to photo documentthe cityscape of Dhaka.

Photo: Habibul Haque /Drik

PATHOK SHOMABESH presentsDrik’s photo and publicationDrik and Pathok Shomabesh partnered to fulfill the thirst of those who have passion for photography. Now, Printed photo and photography books published by Drik are available at Pathok Shomabesh Store situated at the National Museum premises.

Photographs on display at Pathok Shomabesh staircase

Photo: Habibul Haque /Drik

Audio Visual and event design forSanofi Annual Conference 2014Drik designed and event managed the annual conference 2014 for Sanofi. An attractive audiovisual presentation was also made by AV Department of Drik.

Drik goes for annual retreat the Cox’s Bazar in February, 2014@

Des

ign:

Nip

un/D

rik

House 58, Road 15/A (new)

Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh

Tel: +880-2-8112954, 8123412, 9120125

Fax: +880-2-9115044E-mail: o�ce@drik.net

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