Drik inaugurated the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest 2025 for the fourth consecutive time to celebrate the country's photojournalists' professionalism, skill, and courage. Seven winners were announced at the inaugural ceremony on Saturday, April 19, at the Drikpath Bhobon in Panthapath, the capital.

The contest launched on February 9 with an open photo call, and 252 photojournalists submitted photos taken over the past year. 1,310 photos were submitted on political, economic, social, cultural, wildlife, and documentary topics. Out of these, a photo exhibition has started with 31 selected photos.

The Picture of the Year 2024 was awarded to Ashraful Alom, a former photojournalist of Prothom Alo. He received Tk 1,00,000 as prize money. Six other photographers under three categories were also awarded at the event. The winners were –

Politics category: Winner Kazi Salahuddin Razu of Bonik Barta and Honourable Mention Dr. Kumar Bishwajit of Reviewthatplace.com.

Public Interest Journalism category: Winner M Yousuf Tushar of Business Bangladesh and Honourable Mention Md Abu Noman Omit of limerickbd.com.

Arts, Culture & Sports category: Winner Jahir Ahammed Shakil of Image Ghor Photographic Society and Honourable Mention Rashed Shumon of The Daily Star.

The winners and honorable mentions from each category received Tk 50,000 and Tk 10,000  respectively, in addition to crests and certificates.

The jury members for 2025 were: Rani Yan Yan, Advisor to Chakma Circle and Human Rights Defender; Munem Wasif, Photographer and teacher; Tanvir Chowdhury, Bangladesh Correspondent, Al Jazeera; and Zahidul Salim, Special Photojournalist, Prothom Alo. Drik's General Manager, ASM Rezaur Rahman, also the exhibition curator, moderated the inauguration event.

Jajang Nokrek, a Garo Indigenous photographer from the plains, has won the 'Indigenous People Grant 2025' under the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest. This exhibition features the 2024 Adivasi Gant winner Denim Chakma's photo. Similarly, photographer Jajang Nokrek will showcase his work in the 2026 exhibition.

In his welcome speech, Dr Shahidul Alam said, "One of the special features of the photographs you are seeing on the wall is that the events that are being told through the photographs have been denied by every government every time. This is the custom of our country. Events happen, and the people who happen to them know it, but the government always denies it. At the same time, last year's photographs were very different due to political reasons. There was a dictatorship, there was a movement, then there was no government for a while, and a new government came. We saw and recall all these in last year's photographs."

The 12-day exhibition, featuring the photos selected by the jury, will end on April 30, 2025. The exhibition is open to everyone from 3 pm to 8 pm every day. As always, this exhibition was curated by Drik's General Manager, ASM Rezaur Rahman, who also hosted the inaugural ceremony.

Drik has been hosting the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest since 2022, to highlight the success and work lives of photojournalists. We salute all the hardworking, courageous, and talented male and female photographers and photojournalists.