Bangladeshi wins Dh200,000 Sheikh Hamdan International Photography Award

Detailed summary

Through his lens, Pinu Rahman captured a poignant image of a family sleeping within the concrete walls left standing amid the ruins of their Dhaka home after a fire ...

A Bangladeshi photographer has won the $200,000 Grand Prize of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (Hipa), for capturing a poignant image of a family sleeping within the concrete walls left standing amid the ruins of their Dhaka home.

The winning photographer, named Pinu Rahman, received the award from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during a special ceremony that took place in Dubai's Museum of the Future on November 10.

Rahman's winning image was taken in the aftermath of a devastating fire that destroyed more than 1,500 houses in Korail, one of Dhaka’s most densely populated informal settlements. Against a backdrop of destruction, the image captures the enduring bonds of family and the resilience of those facing extraordinary hardship.

Held this year under the theme ‘Family’, the milestone edition of Hipa awards celebrated photography’s ability to capture human connections, preserve cultural narratives and tell stories that resonate across borders.

Attended by dignitaries and leading figures from the international photography community, the ceremony saw a total of $1 million awarded across the competition categories and Special Awards, recognising exceptional talent and achievements in photography from around the world.

During the awarding ceremony, Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, Secretary General of Hipa said: "As we mark our 15th anniversary, we are proud to announce that Hipa’s photographic archive has grown to more than one million images, contributed by an active community of over half a million photographers from 209 countries."

Sheikh Mohammed also honoured the recipients of Hipa’s Special Awards, recognising individuals whose work has made a lasting contribution to photography, visual storytelling and the wider creative community.

The Appreciation Award was presented to Japanese photographer Kazuyoshi Nomachi, whose career spans more than five decades.

The Content Creator Award was presented to…

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