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Abir Abdullah currently is an independent photographer and former Principal of Pathshala South Asian Media Institute in Bangladesh. Worked as a correspondent of the European Press Photo Agency (EPA) from 2005 to 2018. Born in 1971 in Bagerhat in Southern Bangladesh, he holds a master’s in Marketing (M. Com) from Dhaka University. Making a significant career change to become a photographer, he studied at the Bangladesh Photographic Institute in 1993 and then at Pathshala Media Institute, gaining a diploma in photojournalism in 1999. Following this, the World Press Photo Foundation- Netherlands supported him on a three-year seminar (Pleasure of Life).
He worked as a staff photographer at Drik PLC (1996 to 2005); was a Founding partner of DrikNews (2006); Vice-Princip of Pathshala (2010-2012) and was a Jury Member of the World Press Photo in 2011. Abir’s numerous awards include the Mother Jones Award 2001 for his work on Freedom Fighters (Veterans of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971) and the 1st Prize National Disaster category NPPA best of photojournalism award 2008. His work continues to gain recognition and he was the Alexia Foundation Professional grants winner in 2013 and the recipient of the Leica Reportage prize in the Vevey International Photography Awards in Switzerland in 2013.
Abir’s work has been published in New York Times, New Yorker, Time, Guardian, The Telegraph, Stern, Der Spiegel, the New Internationalist Magazine and many other international publications. He was one of the photographers featured in the book BLINK, published by Phaidon, featuring 100 photographers worldwide and in the book titled New Stories commissioned and published by World Press Photo.
A fireman attempts to extinguish a fire at Kung Keng textile factory. Unsafe working conditions have led to repeated accidents. Export Processing Zone, Dhaka Bangladesh. 26 August 2005. @ ABIR ABDULLAH
Abir’s numerous awards include the Mother Jones Award 2001 for his work on Freedom Fighters (Veterans of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971) and the 1st Prize National Disaster category NPPA best of photojournalism award 2008. His work continues to gain recognition. In 2013 he was the Alexia Foundation Professional grants winner and the recipient of the Leica Reportage prize in the Vevey International Photography Awards in Switzerland.
Abir’s work has been published in New York Times, New Yorker, Time, Guardian, The Telegraph, Stern, Der Spiegel, the New Internationalist Magazine and many other international publications. He was one of the photographers featured in the book BLINK, published by Phaidon, featuring 100 photographers worldwide and in the book titled New Stories, commissioned by World Press Photo.
Climate Migrants – Shephali and his brother inside their temporary shelter made by polythene beside a road after they lost their house due to the flooding. Chilmari, Kurigram.
After obtaining his diploma in Photojournalism from Pathshala South Asian Media Institute in 1999, Abir decided to commence his photography education career and become Vice-Principal of the South Asian Media Institute from 2009 to 2011. Abdullah taught introductory and advanced Documentary photography courses between 2003 and 2009, and from 2004 to present day, Abdullah taught photojournalism. He conducted a 6-month-long semester on Digital Photojournalism at the Independent University, Bangladesh, in 2012.
Field Experience as a freelance photographer from 1994 to 1995, working as a staff photographer at Drik Picture Library from 1996 to 2005. Worked as a Photojournalist as a Bangladesh correspondent for European Press Photo Agency (EPA) from 2005 to April 2018. Worked as a photographer at Sorvis in Norway for three months. Conducted a two-year long-term photography project with Children supported by Save the Children UK at Fandauk in Nasirnagar from 1997 to 98.
BOOKS:
BLINK- a contemporary photography book on 100 photographers worldwide- Phaidon Press, UK. NEW STORIES, published by World Press Photo Foundation. PLEASURE OF LIFE published by World Press Photo.
EXHIBITIONS:
Group exhibition on Reflections: Water and Life in Bangladesh at The Association of Photographers Gallery in London, 1999.
War veterans of Bangladesh at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts at Dhaka in 2000.
Group exhibition on Pleasure of Life at Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, 2001.
An exhibition of Photographs by the 2001 Mother Jones award recipients in The Friends of Photography at the Ansel Adams Center in San Francisco, USA, 2001.
Group exhibition in the 4a Bienal of Photojournalism at the “Centro de la Imagen” in Mexico City in 2001.
Feature exhibition at Visa pour l’Image in Perpignan in 2013 and 2021.
Where Three Dreams Cross: 150 Years of Photography from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, UK, 2010.
Shattered Faces photo essay at the Freedom to Create exhibition at the Cairo Opera. Climate Refugees series at the Freedom to Create exhibition at Ana Tzarev Gallery, New York, 2011.
Metropolis city life in the urban age 2011 – Noorderlicht Photo Festival, Groningen.
AWARDS:
Mother Jones International Fund for Documentary Photography Awards for ‘ Freedom Fighters: Veterans of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971’ works in 2001. He is also the winner of the Alexia Foundation professional grant in 2013.
