/ 2020 / /

When home won’t let you stay

Yasmin’s husband returned after four years but she saw him for a glimpse. He was executed by Myanmar military with her two sons. That same day, this 23-year old was raped that gave her a child in Bangladesh. A child whose loving face reminds not of her husband but terror. There was no hope but despair and anger against the whole world. A world that did nothing to save them from ethnic cleansing, which became a full-blown genocide in 2017 when 723,000 refugees fled to Bangladesh. Yasmin is just one among thousands of Rohingya youth who lost their dreams and homes.

Shahria Sharmin is a freelance photographer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. After doing her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Dhaka, Shahria pursued her further study at Pathshala South Asian Media Academy in Bangladesh where she became fascinated with the social history of photography and the evolution of identity, sexuality and gender in relationship to material culture. ‘Call me Heena’ Shahria’s ongoing project, takes her interest in photography’s connection with identity to explore and express the diversity of human experience.

Awards • Alexia Foundation, 2nd Place Student Grant 2014
• FotoVisura,Top Finalist 2014
• Pride Photo, 2nd Place under the category, “Getting Closer” 2014
• LGBTE International Art 2014,The Best Photographer Prize
• Mosco Foto Award MIFA 2014, 2nd place in life style category, non professional
• Accademia Apulia UK 2014, 2nd place
• Renaissance Photography Prize 2015, Finalist
• International Photographer of the Year IPOTY 2016
• Honorable mention in the 2016 Exposure Award
•  Magnum Photography Award 2017, Juror’s Pick
• Women Photograph grant in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis 2017,
Shortlisted
• IPA Documentary Award, Finalist
• World Press Photo 6X6 Global Talent from the Asia
• Recipient of 26th Joop Swart Masterclass, 2019