10-day exhibition on Rohingyas ends at BRAC University
A 10-day photo exhibition on Rohingya refugees titled “Ek Khaale: Once Upon A Time” ended at BRAC University’s Merul Badda campus in Dhaka on Thursday, 28 August 2025.
The exhibition was organized by the Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) of BRAC University and curated by Greg Constantine, a documentary photographer, author, and visual journalist known for his work on human rights, injustice, and inequality.
Through compelling visual storytelling, dialogue, and collaborative sessions, Constantine sought to promote a deeper understanding of the Rohingya community—their history, identity, and the complex challenges they continue to face.
Addressing the exhibition’s opening ceremony, Constantine said Rohingyas were now defined by a legacy of displacement, victimhood, and violence—suffering the loss and confiscation of their heritage.
With support from Rohingyas from 11 countries, this exhibition tries to reconstruct and reimagine the lives left behind since the crackdown on the community in Myanmar, he said.
“What we do at BRAC University through exhibitions like this is use photography to reflect on what lies ahead,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar.
“We do not want a world built on exclusion and injustice. We want to learn from differences. I only wish we had Rohingya community members here to directly share their stories,” he said.
Addressing as chief guest, Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, described the exhibition as a timely reminder of global responsibility.
It is an awful reality. The Rohingyas live in the world’s largest refugee camp while their identity continues to be denied and distorted for decades, he said.
Addressing the closing ceremony, James Goldman, British Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director to Bangladesh, said he was moved by the exhibition, which shed light on the importance of preserving memory and amplifying voices of the oppressed.
Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, said the Rohingya were going through a process of dehumanization and the exhibition acted as an eye-opener.
Khairul Basher, Director of the Office of Communications of BRAC University, informed that over 5,000 people had visited the exhibition while global media had picked it up for widespread coverage.
Three school students were also presented awards for their posters featuring the exhibition.
Treasurer Ariful Islam, Registrar Dr. David Dowland, Tahsina Rahman, Joint Director of Student Life; Manzoor Hasan OBE, Executive Director of the CPJ, and students and faculty members from six schools and 10 universities were present.
