Asaf’s lens creates magic at UN General Assembly

A Solo Photo Exhibition by Bangladeshi photographer Asaf Ud Daula was held, at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

For the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Asaf's solo photography exhibition "Emotion to Generate Change" was inaugurated on September 19, and continued until September 25. About 500 people attended its inauguration, including the prime ministers of different countries. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, also attended the session. Renowned Italian film director and author Lia Beltrami curated the exhibition.

Hailing from Akkelpur in Joypurhat, Asaf Ud Daula unfurled the red-green flag of Bangladesh in front of the world's leaders in New York. The photographer captures the traditional form of evergreen Bangladesh.  His camera captures an idealistic form of climate change – also showing diversity and successive beauty of Bengal.

Throughout September, Asaf spent a busy time for several solo exhibitions in both the continents of Europe and America -- "Emotions to Generate Change". Asaf could not physically join the exhibition of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, as he was representing Bangladesh with several solo exhibitions in the 25th edition of The Religion Today Film Festival in Europe. This event sa the participation of 25 countries from across the world.

Along with the photography exhibition, photographer Asaf also led a day-long workshop on "Photography Journey of Bangladesh" for the film festival's guests, and other Italian delegates. In the 25th edition of this festival, two solo photography exhibitions of Asaf Ud Daula were held in Pinne (September 14-20) and Taranto (September 17-25) in Italy. In addition, another solo photography exhibition was held from September 14-22, 2022 courtesy of the 'Festival for Philosophy' in Carpi, Italy. All of these exhibitions of artistic projects were curated by the famous Italian filmmaker and author Lia Beltrami. These artistic exhibited projects were designed by Mauro Radici.

"Our nature is full of words of love. In these artistic photographic exhibitions, climate change scenarios of Bangladesh have also been addressed," said Asaf.

In October last year, on the occasion of COP-26, a solo photography exhibition titled "Emotion to Generate Change" opened in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, which was inaugurated by the Pope Francis Jorge Mario Bergoglio on October 31. The exhibition featured 40 photographs, and was on display until November 5, 2021. As the chronology of this, another solo exhibition was held at the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome, Italy from 16-25 November 2021.  After that, Asaf's photographs were exhibited at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum-2022 in Davos, Switzerland, during May 22-29, 2022. Prior to this, on May 16, Monaco, Europe's second-smallest country, hosted a solo photography exhibition at the 16th Monaco Charity Film Festival.  In 2018, Asaf's first solo photo exhibition was held in "Religion Today Film Festival" in Trento, Italy where 33 photographs were showcased. That year, he was awarded the reputation of the best photographer of the year, 2018. Later in 2020, Asaf Ud Daula won an international photo contest titled 'The World's Best Photos of#Green2020' launched by Agora.

Asaf is a resident of Shanta village of the Akkelpur Upazila in Joypurhat district. He received a 1.3-megapixel mobile phone from his uncle in 2008, and with this phone, he started his photographic journey. Back then, he had no idea what images and photography meant. After purchasing his first semi-SLR camera in 2012, he began studying online, attending workshops, traveling with senior photographers, and learning photographic grammar.

The photographer has been featured in National Geographic, Forbes, Daily mail, Nat Geo, Geo Asia-Spain, Geo Asia, and other magazines.

At present, he is working as a photographer at Rural Development Academy in Bogura.

"I have tried to depict the picturesque beauty of Bangladesh, and the smiling countenance of her people. I feel thrilled thinking that people from all over the world are getting familiar with Bangladesh through the photos. I feel proud as a Bangladeshi to be able to raise the flag of Bangladesh all over the world," said Asaf Ud Daula.