Bangladeshi photojournalist bashed for clicking a couple kissing in the rain

NP NEWS NETWORK

There are a lot of conflicts regarding censorship and what content is to be shown to the audiences. Everyone is stuck between the ethical values and breaking the barriers. There are still debates on whether to share intimate content on the social media and promotional platforms. But still, there are many content creators who address the elephant in the room.

On Monday, a Bangladeshi photographer Jibon Ahmed posted a picture of a couple in rain on his Facebook page. As soon as the pictures got viral, social media users had assorted perspectives about it. The picture was taken on the campus of the University of Dhaka, which has been witnessing violent incidents and protests for a few months. Three of the students were even suspended for their abusive behavior towards the two students holding hands. As Bangladesh is a Muslim dominant as well as conservative country, many of the citizens considered the picture indecent.

One of the conservative blogger commenting on the picture told the media,

“Lovers are getting more audacious with an increase in time. Earlier these things were done secretly. Now they are doing it in broad daylight. The day is not far when they will be making love in public.”

On the whole issue, Ahmed said that he will not victimize himself because of this moral policing.  Saying that, “twisted sense of morality cannot dictate an artist’s work.”

While giving an interview to a newspaper he said that the couple did not object the picture and that’s why he went ahead and sent it to his newsroom, but was disappointed to know that they did not run it.

“I said, no, you cannot portray this photo negatively, because I found it a symbol of pure love,” said Ahmed, 30. He later posted it on his Instagram and Facebook accounts, whereas in an hour it had been shared 5,000 times,” Ahmad said.

Next day he was criticised by the other photographers and he even lost his job. But other employees of newspaper supported Amad and said that they will take a legal action. Although the editor claimed that he was fired because he did not fulfill his professional duties. In fact, everyone at the editorial level loved the picture. Ahmad showed discontent over how the matter was handled.

Ahmed said, “The couple had a spontaneous lip kiss; I found nothing wrong in them or no obscenity. Of course, I am disheartened. Some people in our country became educated only in papers, but they are not educated in a real sense. They failed to realize the underlying meaning of my photograph. I am also a bit worried about myself.”

There is a suffocating atmosphere for the journalists in Bangladesh and many of them are getting life threats. This is why many of the journalists are supporting Ahmad.