Photo show tracks decline of a tribe
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A Catholic photographer has highlighted the struggles of one of the country’s most marginalized and smallest ethnic groups at a photo exhibition in a bid help the tribe survive.The June 23-29 exhibition in Dhaka entitled “Ambushed by Greed: A Chak Story” at the DRIK gallery showcases 72 digital color photos of the Chak tribal group by Philip Gain, a 50-year-old journalist and Yale World Fellow.The little-known Chak only number around 3,000 people and are concentrated in 21 villages in Bandarban district in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.A recent survey shows that their numbers are decreasing rapidly.The Society for Environment and Human Development, a progressive NGO where Gain is the executive director, sponsored the exhibition that began with a seminar detailing the plight of the Chak people.
Transcript of Photo show tracks decline of a tribe
Photo show tracks decline of a tribe
www.ucanews.com
Exhibition seeks to save dwindling ethnic group by highlighting its struggles.
A Catholic photographer has highlighted the struggles of one of the country’s most marginalized and smallest ethnic groups at a photo exhibition in a bid help the tribe survive.
The June 23-29 exhibition in Dhaka entitled “Ambushed by Greed: A Chak Story” at the DRIK gallery showcases 72 digital color photos of the Chak tribal group by Philip Gain, a 50-year-old journalist and Yale World Fellow.
The little-known Chak only number around 3,000 people and are concentrated in 21 villages in Bandarban district in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
A recent survey shows that their numbers are decreasing rapidly.
The Society for Environment and Human Development, a progressive NGO where Gain is the executive director, sponsored the exhibition that began with a seminar detailing the plight of the Chak people.
It illustrates the sad decline of the Chak who once used to enjoy a happy existence in forest villages.
The encroachment of new Bengali settlements and rubber and tobacco plantations, however, is destroying their traditional way of life, Gain said.
“I’ve been visiting the forests and hills of Bandarban district to photograph the Chak and 10 other small ethnic groups since 2008,” the former seminarian said.
“Encroachment is resulting in all the natural resources they once enjoyed being plundered, which is also posing a major threat to local ecological systems,” he added.
Cha Kra Aung, a Chak leader, said he and the rest of his people lead very insecure lives these days.
“We’re marginalized in many ways. Our women are not able move around freely in their own locality because Bengali settlers often attack them,” he said.
“We want support from government in protecting our rights,” he added.
Gain has also drafted a declaration, signed by the seminar participants and various supporters, demanding official help in saving the Chak people. It was due to be submitted to the government after the exhibition ended today.
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