Renowned photographer, photo editor and educator Abir Abdullah has depicted the sufferings of people amid the monsoon rains in Dhaka in his solo photography exhibition titled Troubling Rain under way at Alliance Fran莽aise de Dhaka in Dhanmondi.
The exhibition, which began on August 14, displays photographs Abir captured over almost two decades, mostly portraying disruptions, hardships and quiet struggles of people due to rain.
鈥楾he exhibition is an outcome of a long-term photographic exploration of those moments of people navigating flooded streets, of umbrellas turned inside out, of the city鈥檚 fragile infrastructure strained under the weight of water,鈥� Abir said, adding that these photographs are not merely about discomfort; they are visual documents of resilience, adaptation, and the complex relationship between people and their environment in one of the world鈥檚 most densely populated cities.
A displayed photograph shows a street hawker walking with his goods in an almost empty street in the evening amid rain, while another photograph shows a rickshaw puller wearing a raincoat amid rain.
Besides, some photos show inundated streets submerged due to heavy rain or an inappropriate drainage system, broken-down vehicles, rickshaws turned upside down and people walking in flooded streets.
Abir said that through these photographs, he seeks not only to show the immediate challenges brought by rain but also to offer a deeper reflection on time, space, and how nature continuously shapes the urban experience in Dhaka, adding, 鈥楾he rain, both beautiful and burdensome, leaves behind not only puddles but also stories of survival, improvisation, and enduring human spirit.鈥�
Some of the photographs portray crises faced by low-income people, especially rickshaw pullers who transport people during rain in flooded streets.
One photograph shows a long queue of rickshaws in a street, which also indicates that common people are only capable of using the rickshaw.聽
鈥楳onsoon rains have been depicted a lot in Bengali literature and fine arts. I tried to capture the poetry of rain through my photographs,鈥� Abir said, ending by saying that people should remember the effort of the working-class people serving the unplanned city.
The exhibition will end on August 23.
