Bangladesh, and particularly Dhaka, is well-known for overcrowded commuting trains. As a result, people claim any perch they can on top and all around the train cars. But this practice is never as intense as during the Bishwa Ijtema, a three-day annual gathering of Muslims held in Tongi, a small town by the banks of the river Turag, in the outskirts of Dhaka.
This is a series of images taken at the Tongi station during the most recent Bishwa Ijtema.
France Leclerc, born in Quebec, Canada, is an independent photographer who currently lives in Chicago. Her early career was in academia, but she decided to make a change to pursue her true passion for photography. The most prominent themes of her work are culture (especially disappearing ones), gender, and social inequality. She likes to describe her work as “life photography”, though her approach is a mix between documentary and street photography.
Awards 2023 LensCulture Photography Festival, Third Place
2022 Miami Street Photography Festival, Third Place
2021 PX3 Gold Medal Street Photography Category
2021 PX3 Bronze Medal Press Category
2021 PX3 State of the World, Shortlisted
2021 Portrait of Humanity, Finalist
2021 IPA Award People and Lifestyle, Honorable Mention
2021 Siena International Photo Award, Journeys, and Adventure, Honorable Mention
