Chobi Mela XI Photography Festival Explores Renewal and Resistance in Dhaka

The eleventh edition of the Chobi Mela photography festival took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 16 to 31, 2026. Curated by artists Munem Wasif and Sarker Protick, the event adopted 'Re' as its thematic focus, examining concepts of renewal and fresh starts in visual storytelling. The festival featured 58 artists from 18 countries across nine exhibitions at various public and private venues throughout the Bangladeshi capital, including the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, DrikPath Bhobon, and the Bangladesh National Museum. Programming included talks, workshops, film screenings, and public education initiatives. Notable works included Ritual Inhabitual's 'Oro Verde' (2019–24), which documents the Purépecha community's resistance in Michoacán, Mexico, and Kazi Sharowar Hussain and Gitartha Goswami's 'Songs of the Shore' (2025–), addressing the struggles of Miya Muslims in Assam. Historical perspectives were presented through 'In Our Own Backyard,' showcasing feminist archives from South Asia, and Amanul Huq's 'The Romantic Documentarian,' featuring mid-to-late 20th century Bangladeshi photography. Other highlights included Sheida Soleimani's 'Ghostwriter' (2021–) on Iranian exile, Mong Mong Shay's installation 'Nothing can heal the wound' (2026), and exhibitions addressing Palestinian solidarity and militarization. The festival, founded in 2000, continues to engage with the political dimensions of image-making, presenting photography as both documentary practice and narrative medium during a period of global tension.