A three-day international photo exhibition featuring Sufi rituals was held at Chattogram District Shilpakala Academy in the port city between Thursday and Saturday.
In a bid to promote the spirit of Sufism through photography, Darul Irfan Research Institute (DIRI) organised an international photo competition. It invited both professional and amateur photographers from all around the world to participate in the competition in January.
A total of 724 photographers from 51 countries submitted a total of 2,578 photos for this competition. From them, 200 photos were selected for the exhibition and 151 photos were awarded in different categories.
The categories were — serenity in nature, Sufi rituals and activities around the world, Sufi shrines around the world and Maizbhandar Darbar Sharif’s rituals and activities.
After the exhibition’s inauguration, an award-giving ceremony was held at Chattogram District Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Thursday, where Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury was present as chief guest.
Sheikh Shakil Mahmud, an organising committee member, said the competition and exhibition’s main goal was to promote the spirit of Sufism throughout the world.
Shyamol Nandi, one of the award winners from Chattogram, said, “I’m proud of myself for being awarded among so many photographers from around the world.”
Shyamol’s photograph was titled “Prayer at Maizbhandar Darbar Sharif”.
Syed Irfanul Hoque, DIRI managing trustee and photographer Shoeb Faruquee spoke among others in the award-giving ceremony with Syed Emdadul Hoque Maizbhandari, a DIRI trustee as chair.
